Running Head: C228 Task 2
Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
Task 2
Western Governor’s University
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C228 Task 2
The Zika virus causes a viral infection, transmitted mainly by mosquitos, that can be
difficult to diagnose because most people infected have no signs or symptoms of the disease.
Those who do experience effects of the virus typically present with mild and vague complaints
which can include low-grade fever, rash, joint and or muscle pain, headache and conjunctivitis.
It is extremely rare for Zika virus to cause death but it does have associated complications.
Those infected can develop a neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and there are links
to both miscarriage and a congenital brain defect, microcephaly, if Zika is contracted during
pregnancy (“Zika virus disease,”2017). The Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947 and
has since spread throughout the world with incidences of the disease documented in over 50
countries (Kindhauser, M.K., Allen, T., Frank, V., Santhana, R.S., & Dye, C., 2016). The most
recent and ongoing outbreak of Zika infection began in Brazil in May of 2015 (“Zika virus
infection – Brazil and Columbia,” 2015).
A region is considered to be experiencing an outbreak of the Zika virus when it is
documented that the virus is being spread by indigenous or autochthonous mosquitoes.
Autochthonous transmission of the Zika virus was first discovered in the Americas in Chile from
February to June of 2014 (Pan American Health Organization & World Health Organization,
2015). The virus resurfaced in the Americas in May of 2015, causing an outbreak which began in
Brazil. Since the discovery of the Zika virus in Brazil many more countries and territories
throughout the Americas have confirmed autochthonous transmission of the disease. The dates
which Zika was detected in the involved areas are as follows. Prior to October 2015 only Brazil
was affected. From October to December of 2015 Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana,
Guatemala, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and
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C228 Task 2
Venezuela became involved. From January to March of 2016 Aruba, Barbados, Bolivia,
Caribbean Netherlands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago and the United Sates Virgin Islands became involved. From April to June of
2016 Anguilla, Argentina, Belize, Grenada, Peru, Saint Barthelemy and Saint Lucia were added to
the list. From July to September of 2016 Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States of America
became among the areas involved. From October to December of 2016 Montserrat was the only
new area afflicted by the Zika virus (Pan American Health Organization, 2017). The current Zika
virus outbreak has not spread into any new areas within the Americas in 2018, however, there
aren’t many areas left untouched seeing as how Canada, Chile, Uruguay and Bermuda are the
only areas not involved.
As previously mentioned the Zika virus is mainly transmitted via mosquitos, but this is
not the only way one can become infected. The Zika virus is also a sexually transmitted infection
and can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy (“Zika Virus,” 2018). The
epidemiological determinant associated with the Zika virus outbreak is an increase in the
mosquito population and therefore vectors. Scientists have been unable to definitively
determine if the increase in climactic temperature and humidity directly leads to an increase in
Zika infections or if these factors cause people to change their behaviors (i.e. wear less clothing
and stay outside longer) (Gulich GA, 2016). Risk factors for contracting Zika virus include
frequenting areas of known Zika infection, being bitten by mosquitos and having unprotected
sex with an infected person (“Zika Virus,” 2018). There is not currently a vaccination for Zika, [Show Less]