Zika and the Safety of the US Blood Supply

摘要

H&O What exactly is the Zika virus, and when was it discovered? MB The Zika virus was discovered in 1947 in the Zika Forest of Uganda as part of an early virologic discovery program. Sentinel Rhesus macaques were monitored for fever, at which point the animals were tested for viruses. The first human infection was seen in 1954 in Nigeria. The Zika virus is a flavivirus, a category of RNA genome virus that has an envelope. It is similar to the dengue and Chikungunya viruses in structure and in genetic and antigenic cross-reactivity. These similarities make it challenging to develop accurate diagnostic tests. The mosquito that is most likely to transmit the virus is the female Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is sometimes referred to as the yellow fever mosquito. These mosquitos are found in numerous places around the world, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and southern North America. An infected mosquito can bite and infect 5 or more people in a single day.