Understanding the Zika virus 'eating human brain' is especially dangerous

Many deaths due to Zika virus that cause small brain syndrome in Brazil have raised anxiety when it is very likely that this virus will appear in Vietnam.

Recently, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam expressed concern about the possibility of appearing virus species eating dangerous human brain in the country - Zika virus.

So how exactly is this virus dangerous? Let's find out.

The virus is almost similar to dengue

Zika virus belongs to the family flavivirus - very close to viruses that cause dengue fever.

Flavivirus species are almost similar in structure.(Illustration).

ZIKA virus was first recorded in 1947 in ZIKA forest of Uganda (a country in Africa).

Like dengue fever, the disease is transmitted through an intermediate host of mosquitoes, or more specifically, Aedes mosquitoes (mosquitoes that spread dengue fever). Therefore, over time this disease has appeared in many countries around the world.

Aedes mosquito - intermediate host of Zika virus.

In fact, this ir ir is not classified as dangerous for adults. People with the disease will also have symptoms similar to those of dengue fever: fever, internal bleeding, muscle aches, eye pain . but with a milder level.

Eye pain caused by Zika virus.

Although some cases may be severe due to weak physical condition, patients usually recover within 4 days to 1 week.

Some symptoms when severe, can be confused with more dangerous diseases such as dengue fever or chikungunya disease.
But if so, what is the danger of this virus, when almost no deaths are due to it?

Infants "brain-eating" virus is extremely dangerous

This story originated when the Brazilian Ministry of Health announced in 2015 there were 2,782 cases of children born in Brazil suffering from "small brain disease" - a disease according to the World Health Organization (WHO) judged no. curable. This figure in 2014 was only 147 children.

Children with this syndrome the brain will not develop normally while in the womb. As a result, the child was born with an unusually small head.

A child suffers from a small brain syndrome.

Most such unfortunate babies do not live long. And despite the luck of surviving, their development also faced many obstacles.

But so what? The problem is that experts believe that the cause of this syndrome is because of Zika virus.

As noted by the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), there is a clear connection from the Zika virus pregnant woman during pregnancy, to the birth of children with small head syndrome. .

At most Zika fever outbreaks (like Brazil recently) there is a sudden increase in this syndrome.

However, experts now need more time to accurately assess this relationship, because there are many other causes of small brain syndrome such as infection, toxin infection during pregnancy, genetic errors. .

Currently this virus has been recorded in several countries in Southeast Asia.

But it is clear that the potential danger of Zika virus is undeniable, even when the Brazilian government advises people not to become pregnant at this time, when the disease is booming.

In Vietnam, although there is no record of any cases of Zika virus infection, we have an intermediate host to spread this disease: Aedes mosquito.

At the same time, this virus has been recorded in some countries in Southeast Asia. Therefore, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam advised people to "take a step ahead" by killing mosquitoes and larvae around the house to eliminate the risk of spreading the disease.

The Ministry of Health strongly recommends that people implement the following preventive measures:

1. Cover all water containers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
2. Weekly measures to kill larvae are carried out by releasing fish into large water containers;Wash small and medium water containers, turn over water-free tools.
3. Eliminate waste materials, natural water holes for mosquitoes to lay eggs such as bottles, jars, bottles, coconut shells, old tires / tires, bamboo holes, sheaths .
4. Blinds when sleeping, wear long clothes to prevent mosquito bites even during the day.
5. Actively coordinate with the health sector in the spraying of insecticidal chemicals to prevent and control epidemics.
6. When having a fever, immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment advice.Do not arbitrarily treat at home.