Zika Virus Alarming: 10 Things that Nurses Need to Know

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently sounded an alarm. The
said virus causing an alarm was named Zika, and it is maintaining its momentum of breaking
into multiple territories as we speak. Initially, the virus was found in the rhesus monkeys in the
forest of Zika near Entebbe, Uganda. Later it was also found in the Aedes aegypti species
mosquitoes. An infected mosquito also may carry dengue fever and yellow fever viruses.
Usually, the mosquito could be found in stagnant water. These mosquitos thrive in indoors
and outdoors areas. Additionally, they often attack and bite during the day time. To date, they
are not vaccines for the virus. The mosquitoes are the vectors of the virus, hence, could not
be transmitted from a person-to-person. Health officials are acting upon the phenomena by
making it a point to prevent its spread through awareness programs. Nurses play a unique
role in eliminating widespread transmission of mosquito borne infection of zika virus through
travel assessment, education, and provision of comfort measures, safety and pain
management. The nurses should make every effort to use available resources to deliver and
incorporate bereavement support to the patients and their families.