Two cases of Zika virus infection imported from Thailand have been confirmed by the National Virus Reference Zone of the National Center for Public Health in the Hungarian capital. Although the virus is not life-threatening, it can cause dementia and damage to the nervous system, leading to paralysis.
Fortunately, the tourists had only mild symptoms, the agency said. At present, the Zika virus does not pose a danger of an epidemic within Hungary, but this does not mean that the terrible virus will not appear again. In this regard, tourists should observe safety measures when visiting the tropical forests of Thailand.
Tropical regions are becoming more and more popular vacation spots among tourists from all over the world. Since there is no vaccine or drug therapy for Zika, it is very important to protect yourself from mosquito bites that spread the virus when traveling to dangerous areas. It is recommended to use mosquito repellent and mosquito nets and to wear long-sleeved tops and long-legged pants. Travelers should pay close attention to mosquito protection, and couples planning to become pregnant shortly should avoid traveling to Zika-affected areas altogether.
The Zika virus usually causes flu-like symptoms and is spread through the bites of tropical mosquitoes. After infection, doctors often detect microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. About 75% of cases of infection are asymptomatic, and in most cases, after an incubation period of 3-14 days, only mild signs of the disease are detected – fever, malaise, headache, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis.
If travelers returning from endemic areas experience symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection and they appear within 3 weeks of arrival, they should seek medical attention and be sure to notify the country of travel.
Background: Zika virus is a pathogen found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. Although it is non-lethal, and the fever caused by it is quite easily tolerated, it is known that the infection can be transmitted sexually or from a pregnant mother to her fetus, that is, there are several reasons to be afraid of it, especially for pregnant women. The main one is microcephaly in the fetus – a congenital decrease in the size of the brain and skull, which leads to mental retardation.
Another danger of the disease is Guillain-Barré syndrome, a demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system that develops acutely and manifests itself in the form of paresthesia of the limbs, muscle weakness, and lethargic paralysis. Although in most cases there is a full recovery, some people become paralyzed for life after the disease. There is also a possibility of respiratory failure until death.