Zika Virus: Africa is vigilant

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Zika Virus

Zika Virus: Africa is vigilant

Over 7000 people have on the Cape Verde Islands with the Zika Virus. The archipelago lies off the West coast of Africa. Also, countries on the mainland to take the risk seriously, especially after the Ebola epidemic.

Use of insecticide against the Zika Virus (here in Nicaragua)

On the Cape Verde Islands to speak to the authorities from one Zika epidemic. 7164 registered cases have it there within the past six months, given, was the Ministry of health on Wednesday announced. At least 40 of the Infected were pregnant. “We have to be especially to the pregnant women take care of”, says the head of the Cape Verdean authorities, Tomás Valdez, in the DW-Interview worried. Because the Virus is suspected in babies Mikrozephalie, so Schädelfehlbildungen, to cause.

Especially in Praia, the capital of the small island nation, is of Zika affected. The city has according to the estimation of the Federal foreign office of 125,000 inhabitants, 4800 of them according to the health authority to be infected.

Cape Verde Islands: a tourism destination and as a bridge to Brazil

The country is a transportation hub between Latin America, West Africa and Europe. Two of the nine inhabited Islands live almost exclusively from tourism, the other is this industry is extremely important. Twice a week operate flights between Brazil and the main island of Santiago. Do it All in the Cape Verde Islands are especially vulnerable “in the midst of this Zika-crisis”, says Valdez.

Nevertheless, he’s optimistic: “We are in the process of the epidemic to get a grip. We had in January already times within a week, almost 800 newly registered cases, but in the past week is the number of new infections back. We only have 83 new cases registered.” All of the point out, so the Regierungsmann that the situation will soon be under control.

The Cape Verde Islands are considered Paradise. Over 7000 Zika cases where they were previously registered

Nigeria: “We take Zika seriously”

The Zika Virus was for the first time in Africa demonstrated: 1947 isolated, researchers from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest in Entebbe in the East African Uganda. As Carrier of the Egyptian tiger mosquito. Even if this mosquito does not in all African countries happen to be the continent not from infection is immune, says Abiodun Ifeoluwa. He is a specialist in epidemiology in the University hospital in the Nigerian state of Ogun.

On Monday had the world health organization (WHO) because of the rapid spread of the virus in Latin America
global Gesundheitsnotstand proclaimed. Thus, the WHO now States concerned direct instructions. Most recently, she had a such emergency of 2014 because of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa was proclaimed. Critics had of the organization at the time, accused of, you have to be hesitant on the looming crisis responding.

The Nigerian government has now on the Notstandsmeldung WHO responded and a national information campaign started. The the population about the possible risks of Zika Virus inform. From the experience with other epidemics, we have learned a lot, says Ifeoluwa: “Zika seems harmless to be as Lassa or Ebola, but the Nigerian authorities take the issue very seriously.”

Mozambique: a close relationship to Brazil

Also in Mozambique, the government is vigilant. They announced on Tuesday special controls for travelers from countries, in which there is Zika-cases: Mozambique maintains traditionally close cultural and commercial relations with its “brother countries” of Brazil and the Cape Verde Islands, where the population also speak Portuguese. Brazilian businessmen and investors, Cape Verde immigrants, students, or Mozambican traders travelling between the three countries back and forth. Anyone with fever and other typical symptoms of Zika entering – so the government – a Zika Virus Test.

Benigna Matsinhe from the Mozambican Ministry of health says: “We are in the case of the Zika Virus to respond, as with Ebola, and Dengue. We definitely want to spread the Virus in our country to prevent.”

Helpers during the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. Many people, especially in West Africa due to Ebola awareness

So far not a single Zika infection in Mozambique registered and Benigna Matsinhe hopes that it stays that way. “There are information campaigns for the population is provided – also in cooperation with the Brazilian authorities.” In Parallel to this exercise, a map of the distribution of the Carrier mosquito in Mozambique to develop, she says. “In the meantime we have the necessary laboratory facilities, to the Virus.“

Rwanda: “prepared for everything”

Also, Rwanda relies on its laboratories: The spokesman of the Ministry of health, Nathan Mugume, saying that the government have a well-equipped biomedical centre, in which for a Long time from mosquito-borne diseases such as Malaria, detected and attacked would be: “In the case of the Zika Virus, it is now necessary, for the citizens to educate, also, what in case of a possible outbreak.”

The experience with Ebola has people in Africa, sensitively made. Two years have had the Virus in West Africa raged, the health systems of the affected States were completely overwhelmed. On the African continent has the Zika Virus still not spread. Nevertheless, says Jukius Bizimungu, street vendors in Rwanda’s capital city Kigali:”We do not know exactly
how the Virus spreads. Ebola was suddenly there. In Zika could be the similar to come.”

In collaboration with: Nélio dos Santos (Praia), Leonel Matias (Maputo), Nasra Bishumba (Kigali), Jane Ayeko (Bonn)