The very first known case of Zika fever was in a sentinel rhesus monkey  stationed on a tree platform in the Zika Forest  in Uganda in 1947.Thats why it is called ZIKA .First human cases were reported in Nigeria in 1954. A few outbreaks have been reported in tropical Africa and in some areas in Southeast Asia.  Surveys have found antibodies to Zika in healthy people in India which could indicate past exposure. By using Phylogenetic  analysis of Asian strains it was estimated that Zika virus had moved to Southeast Asia by 1945. In 1977–1978 Zika virus infection was described as a cause of fever in Indonesia. The first major outbreak, with 185 confirmed cases, was reported in 2007  in the Yap island of the Federated States of Micronesia. Virus originated from Monkeys and other primates / bushmeat , same as the ebola virus transmission. People who are traveling to those countries and latin america and those who will be bitten by the specific  female mosquitoes  will bring the virus back home to Canada very soon. Canada have large african , Indian, Latino population, and The mennonites with dual citizenship who live in some part of latin america and then back to canada will be the first to be infected and bring it back to canada in my opinion. This virus can also be transmitted by having sex with some one who is infected or exchanging body fluid with some one or blood transfusion with infected blood.   

Diseases that can be Transmitted by Mosquitoes, While mosquito-transmitted disease is not as common as it is in tropical climates, there are several diseases that may occur within different states . residents who travel to other countries especially pregnant women can get infested with severe side effects. 

Officials in four Latin American and Caribbean nations have warned women to avoid pregnancy amid concerns over an illness causing severe birth defects.

Brazil said the number of babies born with suspected microcephaly – or abnormally small heads – had reached nearly 4,000 since October.Meanwhile, US health authorities have warned pregnant women to avoid travelling to more than 20 countries in the Americas and beyond, where Zika cases have been registered.

 

Other problems that may lead to microcephaly include:

  • Uncontrolled phenylketonuria (PKU) in the mother.
  • Methylmercury poisoning.
  • Congenital rubella.
  • Congenital toxoplasmosis.
  • Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Use of certain drugs during pregnancy, especially alcohol and phenytoin.

Where did Zika come from?

Identified in Uganda in 1947, previous outbreaks were confined to a few small areas in Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

But, in May 2015, it was reported in Brazil . And it has since been reported in:

  • Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panamá,Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname
  • Venezuela and it might travel to Florida with travelers, part of california, southern Iraq and Southeastern Iran, It will all depend on the time and the number of travelers returning from those countries.

There are more than 72 viruses that mosquitoes can transmit to human and also to host of other farm and wild animal.Many of these viruses yet to be discovered in many part of the world’s Some of these Viruses are; .

  • Zika Virus 
    CDC; Zika virus has been responsible for outbreaks in tropical areas throughout the world and was found in 2015 for the first time in Puerto Rico. Attention: Non-MDH link 

Deaths are rare and only one in five people infected is thought to develop symptoms. These include: mild fever, conjunctivitis (red, sore eyes), headache, joint pain, a rash. There is no vaccine or drug treatment, with patients advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids. But the biggest concern is the impact it could have on babies developing in the womb and the surge in microcephaly.

  •  West Nile Virus 

West Nile virus is a disease transmitted to people, horses, and birds. It is the most commonly reported mosquito-transmitted disease in Minnesota. Most people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms or flu-like symptoms, but some (primarily elderly) have more severe illness. West Nile virus was found in Minnesota in 2002 and will remain a public health concern in the foreseeable future.

  • La Crosse Encephalitis 
  • La Crosse encephalitis is a viral disease that is transmitted by the Tree Hole mosquito. It has been responsible for an average of 4-5 cases each year in different  states primarily involving severe illness in children in USA & Canada alone. 
  • Jamestown Canyon Virus .
  • Jamestown Canyon virus, which may be transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes throughout Minnesota, and other states is a rarely reported cause of illness in humans. The virus is closely related to La Crosse virus, although disease is reported less frequently and any age group may be affected.

  • Western and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
  • Western Equine Encephalitis;  is a disease transmitted to people, horses, and birds. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted by the same mosquito species that commonly transmits WNV in western Minnesota. During 1941, there was a large regional outbreak of Western equine encephalitis. In more recent years, Minnesota has had infrequent and smaller outbreaks of WEE (15 human cases in 1975, single cases in 1983 and 1999).

  • Eastern equine encephalitis ;  is a rare illness in humans and horses, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Many people infected with EEE virus show no symptoms but some (primarily children) have severe illness. Although cases have been reported in horses, no human cases have been identified in Minnesota.
  • St.Louise Encephalitis 
  • CDC; Cases of St. Louis encephalitis are usually the result of unpredictable and intermittent localized epidemics. SLE has not been reported in Minnesota since the 1970’s. Attention: Non-MDH link

                                                     west nile virus 

Mosquito-borne Diseases Affecting Travelers

Those who travel to other countries or certain areas of the southern United States can return with mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and zika virus. People who travel to other areas of the world may be at risk and should be familiar with the symptoms of these diseases. Medications used to prevent infection are available for malaria and vaccines are currently available for yellow fever. Avoidance of mosquito bites and use of mosquito repellent are recommended when traveling to affected areas. For more information on international travel, ask your public health office in your area.

  • Chikungunya 
    CDC; Chikungunya virus is primarily found in Africa and Asia yet was found in 2013 for the first time on the Caribbean islands. Attention: Non-MDH link .
  • Dengue .
    CDC; Dengue fever is primarily a tropical disease and rarely occurs within the continental United States. In recent years, Dengue has occurred in southern states, including Texas and Florida. Attention: Non-MDH link
  • Malaria 
    CDC; Malaria is still a public health concern in North America even though local exposure to the disease hasn’t occurred in nearly 100 years. Attention: Non-MDH link
  • Yellow Fever .
    CDC; Yellow fever virus is a rare tropical illness in Minnesota travelers with vaccination being one of the most important steps in prevention. Attention: Non-MDH link

  • What can people do?

    As there is no treatment, the only option is to reduce the risk of being bitten. Health officials advise people to: use insect repellents, cover up with long-sleeved clothes, keep windows and doors closed, The mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so people are also being told to empty buckets and flower pots.The US Centers for Disease Control has advised pregnant women not to travel to affected areas, Many frequent travelers in Usa and Canada are the Mennonites and some other religious group who go back and forth between Mexico and USA/Canada. I will suspect that more infected people will be in those group.We have north Alberta town of la crete for example so the public health authority should work from now to educate people in those areas  along with other communities but focus on those communities as a high risk communities. 

  • Thank you for reading share and learn, be safe and protect yourself.Mosquitoes are here to stay they survive the ice age and lived with the dinosaurs . Mosquitoes was responsible of killing millions among them our great leader Alexander the Great in Babylon. so ZIG from Zika. Be safe travel smart, get your immunization for other illnesses , ask your public health office in your city.
  • Steve Ramsey, PhD- Public Health. – Calgary, Alberta- Canada.