Re: French Polynesia reports Zika virus outbreak
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Zika : a virus that can still surprise
Papeete , Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 . The epidemic zika Is now subside slowly but surely in French Polynesia ? The decline zika is actually sensitive since the last weeks of December 2013: the number of reported cases of zika from 1,000 during the first week of December , 800 and 500 the following week only during the last week of the year 2013. However, the physician responsible for the Office of Health Surveillance , it will take one to two weeks of observation to confirm the decline of the spread of the virus. Because the school holiday period has seriously reduced the number of visits to physicians involved in health monitoring . "Many people went on vacation and left the country. I think we should still observe what happens during the first two weeks back to make sure we had reached the peak of the epidemic in late November or early December , " says Dr. Henri- Pierre Mallet.
Meanwhile , even if the decay zika begins , the number of people affected remains high in French Polynesia . The last count of the Bureau of Health Surveillance ( BVS ) reported 7,156 suspected cases of zika reported by health professionals sentinel network ( of which 361 were confirmed ) . According to the official release of BVS , " an extrapolation of suspected cases reported by sentinel sites throughout the territory of French Polynesia was estimated at more than 26,000 the number of patients seen for zika , but the number total number of cases is much higher because a large proportion of patients do not consult a doctor. All the islands and most of the islands of French Polynesia are affected. In Tahiti , the epidemic seems to decay phase . In the Marquesas and Tuamotu- Gambier , the epidemic seems to have reached the peak and begin a decline. Moorea , the Southern and the Leeward Islands , the epidemic seems to have reached a plateau . " Pending completion of the epidemic , so zika continues to flow and protection against mosquitoes that are vectors must continue.
Especially since the zika virus has not finished surprising scientists and doctors who observe closely. Renowned Benin before arriving in Polynesia in late October 2013,
the virus caused severe neurological complications here with dozens of patients with Guillain- Barr? Syndrome (GBS ): 34 people were affected by this syndrome so far causing paralysis requiring an average of two weeks of hospitalization (sometimes more) . Especially all patients with this SGB face many months of rehabilitation out of the hospital to recover gradually all their functions . Recovery is complete but may take time . Finally zika , or a combination of both dengue virus - zika has caused other types of complications in other patients . In addition to the 34 Guillain Barr?, the Hospital of Taaone had to deal 27 other people with other complications. Twenty neurological complications : encephalitis ten or meningoencephalitis , ten cases had other complications such paresthesia , facial palsy, subdural hematoma . And seven cases of autoimmune complications thrombocytopenic purpura four immunoassays (PTI ), two ophthalmic complications and cardiac complications. In total therefore , French Polynesia more than 60 people have developed after virus infection , complications that had never before been observed in any previous case zika worldwide.
Another big surprise in French Polynesia Bureau of Health Surveillance questioned suspected recurrence. And patients previously affected by the virus zika would again a few weeks later. But so far, the virus was considered zika immunizing for the person with as usually are arboviruses , to which the family belongs zika . "We have more and more cases of recurrence or at least related. Some patients may therefore not be fully immunized after developing a first affection zika .
Although we have no real certainty , questions arise about this virus , " says Dr Pierre - Henri Mallet. Few described as very widespread in the world and Benin far since its discovery in 1947 , this virus zika has brought its share of surprises since his arrival in French Polynesia . Should we think that many forms of zika are possible as there are several serotypes of dengue ? All questions are asked. "In terms of scientific research it is difficult to interpret with our own local resources ," admits Dr. Henri- Pierre Mallet.
Nevertheless scientific collaborations have been initiated since the beginning of the epidemic in the territory : with the WHO (World Health Organization ) , with experts of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and with researchers at the Pasteur Institute. This epidemic zika and new knowledge about the virus and its consequences in humans in French Polynesia , may eventually become a real research topic for a specialist emerging tropical arboviruses . And obviously , questions about the virus continue to grow.
Written by Mireille Loubet Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 10:32
http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Zika-un-virus-qui-peut-encore-surprendre_a92358.html
