The zika outbreak in Brazil

The zika outbreak in Brazil

The zika outbreak occurred in 2015-2016. The virus was first discovered in Kampala, Uganda, in 1947. A mosquito of the Aedes family carries it. By the mosquito, virginal, anal thor oral sex. The disease has mild symptoms such as flu symptoms red rashes and can be mistaken for chikungunya and dengue fever, which are transmitted by the same means. The disease spread in Brazil and other parts of southern and northern America.

The epidemic had diverse effects on population health. It was found to affect women mostly and the pregnant ones at most. It led to newborn having microcephaly and other neurological impairments. As a result of increasing cases, Brazil declared a national public emergency in November 2015. The world health organization followed announcing the disease as a pandemic three months later. The rapid spread of the disease was as a result of a susceptible population, the climate conditions were offered favorable breeding grounds for mosquitos vectors, and the vast movements of people from time to time, causing the disease to spread even further.

The diseases become a concern in healthcare since October 2015. It was discovered there was an increase in the number of newborns having microcephaly. The disease is a rare condition associated with children being born with incomplete brain development. The high cases were first reported in northern Brazil by the end of 2016, and there was the identification of 20,000 cases.

The disease poses significant health effects and risks. The symptoms start from being mild to severe, which will eventually require hospitalization of patients. A pregnant woman found with the disease can cause severe congenital disability. On rare occasions, the virus can cause Guillain-Barre, which affects the nervous system. The nervous system, in turn, affects a person’s immunity causing muscle weakness and can lead to paralysis.

Following the epidemic, the government took measures to ensure the disease was combated and controlled. Within one year, there was notification of 10,232 cases of microcephaly. The same year, there were 2205 confirmed of microcephaly. These prompted the government to come up with strategic plans based on three major pillars. These were vector control, access of healthcare to people affected with the disease, and technological and research development.

Vector control

The country had previously taken part in an international program to ensure there is the eradication of vector. During the crisis, the government took the initiative to conduct house inspection to identify breeding grounds for the mosquitoes. The government provided free mosquito repellent cream to all pregnant women living in poor conditions. The government invested R$70million to armed forces to enable them mosquitos. It offered R$300 million to moH to ensure they purchase equipment needed by women who were registered members of the bolsa familia.

Access to healthcare

The government offered access to medical care for patients affected by the virus. It developed guidelines to ensure children born will receive proper health care. According to the moH, 2621 cases of microcephaly receive child care. 57.5% of the victims receive special consideration. It is unfortunate the disease struck in the northern part of Brazil, where the vast populations are poor individuals. There are fewer doctors per the national average. Many practitioners are concentrated on the southern side. The reason being of access to excellent infrastructure and facilities. However, the government made changes to ensure the northern sides are not affected. There were increase centers that specialized in rehabilitation to offer treatment to zika-affected children

Technology ad research development

The government allotted R$50 million for research. There was an additional R$10 million, which was released to establish a national biobank of samples such as saliva, urine, and blood that were essential in the research to develop a cure for the disease. Another strategy was combatting the vector since over 10 million households do not have access to clean water, and the government initiated a program in which all home will have an application of mosquito repellent twice a week

The government also took some measures, which resulted in the success of combatting the virus.

Issuances of a travel ban to pregnant women. this restricted their movements to areas affected by the virus

The government published clinical guidance to help pregnant women care for themselves and their infants.

They were developed and distributed laboratory test kits and reagents. These made identification of the virus quickly and accessible.

The government improved access to voluntary reversible contraceptives methods to reduce cases of unintended pregnancies. The strategy was an aim to reduce the impact of zika virus infection.

WHO was among organizations that help the countries in controlling the zika virus. The developed a strategic response framework that will help contain the situation. They include:

They developed advanced research to find preventive measures and find ways to control the infection and reduce cases of transmission. This is by increasing funding in research-based facilities.

They developed, strengthened, and implemented an integrated surveillance system for persons infected with the virus.

They increase laboratory capacity to ensure maximum people are tested. The laboratories were spread between northern and southern brazil to ensure maximum people were tested and taught on preventive measures to ensure the disease is controlled.

They worked together with other organization in support of strategies that were developed to reduce the population of Aedes mosquitos

They provided support and care to the children and families affected by the virus. These are through physical, emotional, and psychological support.

Other donors include USAID and countries such as Australia, Canada, and the UK through the department of foreign affairs assisted in funding. In addition to this funding, WHO gave out US3.8 million from the contingency fund for an emergency to help the zika pandemic.

The policies also were not very useful and faced some criticism by personnel such as the national association of public defenders (ANADEP). They questioned the norm in which the government addressed the zika outbreak. The government did not respond to the issue with the magnitude it holds. Access to health and social security did not reach the poor hence put them at high risk of getting the virus. The actions planned by the government did not have a budgetary allocation to ensure the executions of the plans. Many ended up getting the infection.

The government released R$65 million to intensify research to come up with prevention and diagnostic measure to curb the pandemic. There was an absence of intense research on the disease and vector control measures. The neglect in research and less funding end up affecting the vulnerable population an putting them in risky situations.

The majority of the population did not have access to a waste disposal system and chlorinated water. The application of mosquito repellent to these households was not valid. Poor hygiene conditions encouraged the breeding of the mosquitos. Implementation of the repellent was not sufficient, and many continued to be affected by the virus.

Another failure is failing to advise women to postpone pregnancies. Tourists warned about the epidemic, while millions of women living in slums were left unprotected. This left to the birth of many brains damaged babies who will cost these families lots of money in the search for medical care.

Politics came in the way. Latin Americans and Caribbean women did not get the same treatment as whites. The sprays often did not work, and this exposed many to the virus. Health authorities were fearful of contradicting religious conservative. They feared to discuss the issue of abortion, which was an alternative to having giving birth to deformed babies. It was wrong being abortion is legal in the country.

In summary, the zika virus highlights valuable lessons and concerns. Among the concerns is the governments’ issue of not following the foreign policy strategy. Their approach to the pandemic was criticized. To be able to address health concerns, the government must be willing to provide funding, essentials, and technical assistance to areas that are less developed. The three pillars developed played a crucial part.it was necessary to undertake vector control. Federal funding of research and programs ensured many are protected and have access to good health care. The government needs to look at the more prominent picture ad work jointly with local governments and the international community to ensure women and children who were affected by the epidemic are well-taken care.