Detection+of+Zika+Virus+Infection+in+Thailand

Hermann, Laura, et al. “Detection of Zika Virus Infection in Thailand, 2012-2014” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1 August 2015. Web. 14 June 2016.

The Zika virus originated from the Zika Forest in Uganda filled with the Aedes Africanus mosquitos in 1948. This mosquito-borne pathogen was discovered in a sentinel rhesus macaque monkey in 1952. A small number of cases have been reported in Africa and Asia until in 2007, when a large outbreak occurred on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean called Yap. On October of 2013, the Zika virus was detected in French Polynesia and 10% of those living in the area were suspected of being ill from it. The Yap Island was not the only designated area infested with the Zika virus, but so were the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, and Easter Islands as well. Despite the fact that the virus is transmitted through mosquito vectors to nonhuman primates, antibodies have been found in several mammals such as the water buffalo, elephants, and zebras. Initially, there were not any cases of the Zika virus reaching Thailand until travelers returning from the country became infected. The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) underwent investigations throughout Thailand from January of 2012 to December of 2014.