The vast majority of people infected with Zika experience no symptoms or mild ones, such as a fever and a rash.
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A new study about Zika and tears might explain why some infected patients develop eye problems.
Now, researchers are also looking to see if the virus can spread from the eyes, like through tears.
CHINESE authorities yesterday issued an alert for outbound travelers to guard against the Zika virus, which has spread in Southeast Asian countries.
In the lab the researchers found live virus in the eyes after seven days, though they were unable to confirm the method by which the virus traveled there; perhaps by crossing the blood-retina barrier that separates the eye from the bloodstream or along the optic nerve that connects the brain and the eye, or maybe another way altogether.
For the first time, the mosquito that can carry and spread the Zika virus has been found in the San Fernando Valley, and experts are urging residents to take precautions.
The research could shine light on why some people with Zika contract eye diseases like conjunctivitis, and uveitis which can lead to permanent vision loss. But because of the risk of microcephaly, World Health Organization says men and women returning from areas where Zika infections are ongoing are “advised to wait at least six months before trying to conceive to ensure that possible virus infection has cleared”. It’s an evolutionary response to avoid inflammation of sensitive tissue “because if you have a lot of inflammation or scar tissue, it’s not good for vision”, he said. The researchers found that the tears of infected mice contained Zika’s RNA – the genetic material from the virus – but not infectious virus when tested 28 days after infection.
The researchers now are planning complementary studies in human patients infected with the virus.
In a study published Tuesday in Cell Reports, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describe the effect of Zika virus infections in the eyes of mouse fetuses, newborns and adults.
Consequently, infections sometimes persist in the eye after they have been cleared from the rest of the body. The mouse eye could be used to test anti-Zika drugs. Apte is a professor of ophthalmology and visual science.
The study was published September 6 in the journal Cell Reports.
There have been no reported cases of individuals infected by mosquitoes in Canada. But Zika in pregnancy is the major concern because of the risk of the baby developing microcephaly, a condition in which their brains are not fully developed.
This Q & A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Zika.
