Zika Virus in Ottawa

Several cases of Zika virus have come through the clinic this month. All were contracted during Caribbean holidays and caused by mosquito  bites, at least that’s what they told me! Symptoms usually appear in 3–12 days, with fever, joint and muscle pain, skin rash, conjunctivitis and headache. These symptoms generally resolve within 2–7 days; they may be barely noticeable in fact, 75–80% of people infected with Zika virus do not display any symptoms at all and interestingly there is absolutely no treatment.  Public Health have advised us that the virus should have cleared out of the body by about 6 months though there is no clear evidence so far to support this. This would be useful to know, the virus is spread horizontally by mosquitoes and sexual transmission (male to female only)  and vertical transmission of Zika from a pregnant mother to her developing baby may also occur. In the latter case congenital malformations may result so it’s serious. Durex seems to offer protection, but fail miserably against mosquitoes! These are available free at family planning and STD clinics. Any infected person could also go on to develop GBS or ALS but this is true of many common cold viruses as well so I’m not sure what to say except to be careful. Don’t move anywhere until this blows over like SARS and H1N1 eventually did. If you’re already booked to go on holiday  sleep alone, read a book and tuck in that mosquito net!

Useful link: Public Health Zika Info