Category Archives: Arbovirus
Viral Comments (23): Zika and semen, one-time dangerous liaison.
Zikavirus is an arbovirus, an arthropod borne virus, a virus transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. Let’s be more precise; Zika is an arbovirus, an arthropod borne virus, a virus mainly transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. But there are some secondary routes. Zikavirus, but also Ebola, for example, apparently very different viruses, have a transmission path, clearly secondary, but slightly surprising: the sexual route.
IRTA-CReSA will perform Zika virus surveillance in Tiger mosquitoes
IRTA-CReSA (Animal Health Research Centre) is responsible for conducting viral surveillance on the Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) of different viruses transmitted by mosquitoes by commission of the Department of Health of the Generalitat of Catalunya. Since 2014, IRTA-CReSA carries out the diagnosis of Chikungunya virus in Aedes albopictus. In 2015, this surveillance expanded to Dengue virus. And this year the necessary tools to detect the Zika virus are also being implemented. This service is framed within the “Protocol for surveillance and control of mosquito-borne arbovirosis in Catalunya” which is coordinated by the Public Health Agency of Catalunya.
Hunting for tiger mosquitoes and chikungunya virus
Chikungunya fever has already been detected in more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. The virus is transmitted from one person to another by the bite of infected female mosquitoes. Generally the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (the well-known tiger mosquito) two species which can also transmit other viruses, including dengue.
What is Chikungunya virus doing in Catalunya?
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease causing symptoms such as fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache and nose and gum bleeding.
