Zika Virus – Myths and Facts

  • Kasi Viswesvaran IMA, research Cell.
  • Mohammed Shaffi Global School of Public Health and Secretary IMA Research Cell
  • John Panicker Santhwana Hospitals; IMA, Kerala Medical Journal
  • S Vasudevan IMA, Kerala Medical Journal.
  • G K Libu Medical College Trivandrum
  • Ajith Chakravarthy Medical College, Trivandrum
  • . Aravind Medical College, Trivandrum.
  • C V Prasanth Regional Cancer Centre and IMA, Nammude Arogyam.
Keywords: Microcephaly, Zika virus, Modes of transmission, Confirmatory tests, Travel advisory, WHO guidelines

Abstract

After the successful World Cup football tournament in Brazil there was a unprecedented and unexplained spurt in the number of microcephaly cases in Brazil. Expert opinion is divided on the significance of this. International health agencies took cognizance of the problem and this led to the constitution of medical committees to analyse this phenomenon. After several rounds of debate the Expert Committee of World Health Organization came out with several documents that shed more light on the problem. These documents also gave clear guidelines on the approach to the problem and management. Recent guidelines aim at reducing the incidence of new cases. An expert team constituted by the IMA Research Cell examined this problem to advice its members on the various aspects of the problem after analysing the various published data on the problem.

Author Biographies

Kasi Viswesvaran, IMA, research Cell.

Professor, Department of Nephrology; Chairman

Mohammed Shaffi, Global School of Public Health and Secretary IMA Research Cell

Dean

John Panicker, Santhwana Hospitals; IMA, Kerala Medical Journal

Consultant ENT Surgeon;   Editor

S Vasudevan, IMA, Kerala Medical Journal.

Additional Professor, Department of Urology and Associate Editor

G K Libu, Medical College Trivandrum

Assistant Professor Community Health

Ajith Chakravarthy, Medical College, Trivandrum

Associate Professor Community Health

. Aravind, Medical College, Trivandrum.

Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases

C V Prasanth, Regional Cancer Centre and IMA, Nammude Arogyam.

RMO, Palliative Care Cell; Editor

Published
2016-03-30
How to Cite
Viswesvaran, K., Shaffi, M., Panicker, J., Vasudevan, S., Libu, G., Chakravarthy, A., Aravind, ., & Prasanth, C. (2016). Zika Virus – Myths and Facts. Kerala Medical Journal, 9(1), 28-31. https://doi.org/10.52314/kmj.2016.v9i1.396
Section
Original Research