scholarly journals Zika Virus in West Africa: A Seroepidemiological Study between 2007 and 2012

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Marchi ◽  
Simonetta Viviani ◽  
Emanuele Montomoli ◽  
Yuxiao Tang ◽  
Adele Boccuto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
World Health ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Microneutralization Test

According to the World Health Organization, the entire African continent is at risk of a Zika outbreak. To increase data availability on the epidemiology of Zika virus circulation in Africa, we evaluated the immunity to Zika virus in a selected cohort of subjects from West Africa between 2007 and 2012. Human serum samples were collected in 2007 and in 2011/2012 from a cohort of 2–29-year-old subjects from Mali, Senegal, and The Gambia. A sample that tested positive by Zika virus IgG ELISA and by Zika virus microneutralization test was defined as positive. In 2007, the highest prevalence was 21.9%, found in Senegal among 18–29-year-old subjects. In 2011/2012, the highest prevalence, 22.7%, was found still in Senegal, but in 11–17-year-old subjects. During both study periods, the lowest prevalence was found in Mali, where few positive cases were found only in 18–29-year-old subjects. The Gambia showed an intermediate prevalence. In the three countries, prevalence was strongly associated with increasing age. This study contributes to understanding Zika virus circulation within three different ecological and demographic contexts with scarce or no data currently available. Results showed that Zika virus circulated actively in West Africa between the period 2007 and 2011/2012, but with some geographic specificity.

scholarly journals Zika Virus Epidemiology in Selected West African Countries between 2007 and 2012

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Serena Marchi ◽  
Simonetta Viviani ◽  
Emanuele Montomoli ◽  
Yuxiao Tang ◽  
Adele Boccuto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
West African ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
World Health ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Health Organization

Before its recent spread, serological investigations conducted between the 1960s and the 1990s showed the wide presence of Zika virus in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, the entire Africa continent is at risk of Zika outbreak due to the presence of the virus, competent vectors, and the low capacity for surveillance and containment of an epidemic. However, limited data are available on the recent prevalence in the African population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunity against Zika virus in samples of a selected cohort from West Africa, in order to investigate the circulation of the virus in the region during the first years of its emergence in the Pacific. Human serum samples were collected in 2007 and between 2011 and 2012 from a cohort of subjects from Mali, Senegal, and The Gambia. The samples were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection kit and positives were further confirmed by microneutralization test. The results indicate that Zika virus is present and actively circulating in Senegal and The Gambia, with prevalence values of 13.7% and 6.9% in 2012, respectively. Although no significant differences in prevalence were found for the considered time period, seroconversion of some subjects showed the active circulation of Zika virus in the West African area. Analysis by age showed an increase in immunity in relation to increasing age, demonstrating that the population is consistently exposed to the virus throughout life and with a high possibility of being infected during reproductive age. In conclusion, the obtained results allow for better knowledge of the circulation of Zika virus within three different ecological and demographic contexts, and represent an update to the limited data currently available.

The Cuban Response to the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Beldarraín Chaple ◽  
Mary Anne Mercer
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
Medical Teams ◽  
Social Disaster ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Work Done

In December 2013 the first case of Ebola appeared in Guinea. In September 2014 the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agency the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a call for medical collaboration in response to the medical crisis and social disaster caused by the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. Cuban authorities responded immediately to the call by offering specialized help for the epidemic, in collaboration with WHO. A group of 256 Cuban doctors, nurses and other health professionals provided direct care during the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Equatorial Guinea from October 2014 to April 2015. This paper explains the main features of the Cuban health system, describes the development of Cuba's international medical cooperation approach, and highlights the work done by Cuban health collaborators in addressing the damage caused by the Ebola epidemic. Information used includes reports and documents of the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba, reports of WHO and PAHO, and articles published in scientific journals and newspaper articles. The response of the Cuban medical teams to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa is only one example of the Cuban efforts to strengthening health care provision in areas of need throughout the world.

scholarly journals Immunological Assays used to Support Efficacy of Zika Virus Vaccines

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Eckels ◽  
Rafael A. De La Barrera ◽  
Joseph Robert Putnak
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
The World ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Immunological Assays ◽  
Health Organization

In February of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus (ZIKV) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This prompted a rapid response from both the private and public sector resulting in the generation of several promising vaccine candidates. In this review, we discuss published scientific efforts associated with these novel vaccines, emphasizing the immunological assays used to evaluate their immunogenicity and efficacy, and support future licensure.

Zika

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-227
Author(s):  
Rabia Aftab
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
Health Organization

The Zika virus (ZIKV), first discovered in 1947, has emerged as a global public health threat over the last decade, with an accelerated geographic spread of the virus occurring in the last 5 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that millions of cases of ZIKV are likely to occur in the Americas between 2016 and 2017. These projections, in conjunction with an increase in newborn microcephaly cases that are suspected to be ZIKV-associated, prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern in February 2016. With the current media attention, it is likely that GPs will be consulted on th topic, particularly by pregnant women.

scholarly journals Zika Virus and the World Health Organization Criteria for Determining Recent Infection Using Plaque Reduction Neutralization Testing

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 780-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Ward ◽  
Jackeline Alger ◽  
Mabel Berrueta ◽  
Harry Bock ◽  
Pierre Buekens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Recent Infection ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Zika Virus and the Water Supply Chain

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chakaela N Turner
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Subcortical White Matter ◽  
World Health ◽  
Autoimmune Response ◽  
Response Measure ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
The World ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Health Organization

Recently, an epidemic broke out in South America, more specifically Brazil, which is harmful to women baring a child. This epidemic originally began in West Africa. This concern is associated with the increased incident of microcephaly in newborns to mothers infected by the virus. An ultrasound performed at 29 weeks of development uncovered microcephaly with calcifications in the fetal mind and placenta (Miaker, 2016). After the mother asked for a termination of the pregnancy, a fetal post-mortem examination was performed. Microcephaly was seen with verging multifocal dystrophic calcifications in the cortex and subcortical white matter, with related cortical dislodging and gentle central irritation. Zika Virus, or ZIKV, was found in the fetal cerebrum tissue on converse transcriptase–polymerase-chain-response measure, with predictable discoveries on electron microscopy. The complete genome of the virus was recuperated from the fetal mind (Miaker, 2016). The outbreak of “Guillian-Barre Syndrome, [a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves], and Microcephaly, [meaning little cerebrum], have led the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. Gangliosides are crucial in brain development, and their expression correlates with neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and cell proliferation. Targeting the autoimmune response to gangliosides may represent an underexploited opportunity to examine the increased incidence of neurological complications related to ZIKV infection” (Anaya et al., 2016). The purpose of this literature review is to determine the effects of the ZIKV on the nervous system in humans and across other species; we will also determine how Gullain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS, and Microcephaly are developed, and a probable cure to ZIKV.

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