M E N T O R

ondly, delayed detection means that it
takes months to identify the viruses as
the causative agents for the diseases that
they each cause. Thirdly, the locations
heavily affected were caught unprepared
for both viruses. For Zika, it had never
touched South America and the Caribbean
before; and with Ebola, most West
African countries had never experienced
an Ebola outbreak, and there had never
been one of such magnitude. This means
that the countries were ‘immunologically
naïve’ as each of the populations had no
immunity to the diseases and were susceptible.
Just as Ebola spread rapidly in
urban areas and densely populated slums
containing poor infrastructure, limited
healthcare resources, and hospitable environments
for the mosquitoes, the Zika
virus is also following suit.
Additionally, international travel has
played a role in rapid transmission. The
importation of Ebola into Lagos, Nigeria
on 20th July and Dallas, Texas on 30th
September marked the first times that the
virus entered a new country via air travellers.
Zika, which first arrived in Brazil
last year, has found its way into around
40 other countries in the Americas – and
now including Florida in the USA. Countries
such as India, Indonesia and Nigeria
are also predicted to be at high risk with
up to 5,000 passengers a month arriving
from Zika endemic areas.
You can see why it is important that the
extent of human disaster witnessed with
Ebola is not repeated in history with the
Zika virus. Certainly, lessons should be
learned from what happened with Ebola
and applied to Zika to prevent its rapid
spread. The WHO have been widely criticised
for their delayed response to slow
the rapid transmission of the Ebola virus,
and they have admitted that they were, in
fact, too slow to act.
Although vaccine trials are underway,
it is indispensable that the international
community is mobilised to act faster to
prevent the rapid spread of Zika after its
delayed detection and response. Moreover,
some experts have even said it is past
time to act, just like it was with Ebola.
This follows claims that the WHO is not
acting as swiftly as it could since the Zika
infection is not seen as clinically serious
for the majority of infected individuals, it
is microcephaly that is more concerning.
Therefore, they are being urged to take
quicker action to stop what could become
a devastating epidemic. It is simply not
safe enough to continue at the pace that
we are going now, as the virus is advancing
dangerously.
Artwork by Emma Rengasamy
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