AS THE ZIKA virus becomes more bothersome to Guyana’s populace and other parts of the world, another mosquito-borne virus which was recently discovered is yet to be identified by the Ministry of Public Health.This was confirmed by the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle. Minister Norton revealed that the ministry was suspicious of a new virus coming into play and hoped that samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) could give some confirmation.

Dr. Norton told members of the media on Friday that a large number of doctors had related varying symptoms that did not correspond with those of the Zika virus. However he reiterated that they would only be able to identify or pronounce with some amount of certainty after laboratory tests were done.

But as that process was ongoing, the perpetual Zika virus continued to be inconvenient. Thus far, there were five confirmed cases and those patients had been quarantined.

While there has been no indication that there has been a widespread transmission of the virus in Guyana, Dr. Norton said there are a number of persons who might have the virus, as they display signs and symptoms that are closely associated with it.

However, since Guyana lacks trained personnel in its medical institutions to detect the virus, the suspected cases are not promptly detected. Government has since identified someone who would be sent to the CARPHA to be trained in identifying the Zika virus.

NEW TRANSMISSION
Meanwhile, the Public Health Minister confirmed that there are suspicions of the Zika virus being transmitted by other mosquitoes aside from just the primary transmitter, which is the Aedes Aegypti.

According to a Reuters report, “scientists in Brazil announced on Wednesday that they were able to infect another species, Culex quinquefasciatus, with the virus in a laboratory, raising concerns that Zika could be carried by a species more prevalent than Aedes aegypti. They said much more research was needed to learn whether the Culex mosquitoes can transmit Zika infections.”

The report also indicated that in Brazil, Culex quinquefasciatus was 20 times more common than Aedes aegypti, researchers said. Apart from being transmitted by a different mosquito, a BBC report noted that research revealed that the Zika virus kills the type of tissue found in the developing brain. It was able to destroy or disrupt the growth of neural progenitor cells, which build the brain and nervous system, in lab tests, the report stated.

The discovery, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, adds weight to claims that Zika is causing brain abnormalities in babies. However, the US researchers caution this is not yet the conclusive link.

There have been more than 4,800 confirmed and suspected cases of babies born with small brains – microcephaly – in Brazil. It is widely thought that the Zika outbreak was to blame, but that has not been scientifically confirmed.