GeoSentinel, the global monitoring program forInternational Society of Travel Medicine announces a report concerning 5 cases of infection in the virus Zika (ZIKV) in travelers returning from Thailand. All travelers were tourists who had traveled to Thailand for a median of 15 days (7-29) between March 16, 2022 and June 2, 2022. Symptoms began a median of 8 days (6-21 days) after arrival in Thailand. The following areas were visited: Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Koh Samui, Khao Lak, Bangkok, Chang Mai.
All showed signs in the UK, Israel, or Germany. Most (4/5) travelers reported fever, and all reported maculopapular rash. The diagnosis of ZIKV was made by molecular biology (RT-PCR).
With the easing of COVID restrictions, travel to Thailand has increased markedly, returning to pre-COVID numbers. ZIKV is known to be endemic throughout Thailand.
Reminders on the virus Zika :
Le virus Zika is an arbovirus member of the family Flaviviridae and kind Flavivirus, responsible for Zika fever. Transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito (Temples of the Egyptians, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles, Mansonia or Eretmapodites), it can cause a syndrome similar to other arboviruses, with fever, rash, headache and joint pain, which resolves spontaneously.
Most forms are asymptomatic. The symptomatic forms are manifested by a maculopapular exanthema with or without fever and at least two of the following signs: conjunctival hyperaemia, arthralgia or myalgia, in the absence of another etiology.
The infection, typically benign, is the cause of a certain number of severe neurological complications (meningitis, encephalitis) and Guillain-Barré syndrome. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the infection may be accompanied by a risk of congenital malformations of the type microcephaly (0.65% of cases).
For pregnant women or women wishing to become pregnant residing in areas infected by the virus, strict compliance with individual protection measures and good practices relating to the use of insecticides and repellents must be recalled.
In this context, it is recommended that pregnant women or women wishing to become pregnant living in areas free of the Zika virus and who are going to areas where the Zika virus is rife consider postponing their travel plans. Otherwise, all the recommendations and information for prevention and follow-up must be given to them.
It is recommended that anyone living or traveling in areas with Zika virus circulation take precautions to avoid mosquito bites:
- destroy larvae and potential mosquito breeding sites around and in the habitat (containers containing stagnant water, etc.);
- wearing covering clothes;
- mosquito repellents, containing DEET, on uncovered skin;
- mosquito net impregnated with insecticide for the nap and the night;
- people who use sunscreen should apply the repellent 20 minutes after sunscreen.
In order to avoid the dissemination of the Zika virus as much as possible, in the face of a sudden onset of fever and joint or muscle pain within 15 days of returning to Europe from a stay in the intertropical zone, you must consult your doctor at faster by signaling his trip.
Source : ProMED.
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