Zika Virus Analysis - Case Study Example

Research on Zika Virus

The Zika is a virus that is transmitted through mosquitos. Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda’s rhesus monkeys in the Zika Forest in 1947 (de Paula Freitas et al., 2016). Till 2007, there has been few cases of the virus reported to infect human being. However, the high Zika virus infections attracted a lot of attention following an outbreak of the Zika virus in yap, Micronesia. At the onset of 2015, a significant number of Zika virus cases were reported in southern America countries, especially in Brazil (de Paula Freitas et al., 2016). The concern over the virus was vividly manifested prior to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil where many athletes opted out of the games due to fears over contracting the virus.

Other countries have reported local outbreak of the disease, while some of their citizens have returned to their countries with the virus. Clinical tests and laboratory screenings have linked the Zika virus to microcephaly (Mlakar et al., 2016). Microcephaly is a condition where babies are born with shrunken heads and other severely disabilities (Sarno et al., 2016; de Paula Freitas et al., 2016). Due to these outcomes, the virus has prompted an urgent debate about abortion in Latin America, with many women perceiving abortion as a solution to giving birth to children with such abnormalities. Considering the increased infection of Zika virus infections, this paper argues that systematic abortions should be allowed not only to avoid the risk of giving birth to microcephalic newborns, but to evaluate the risk that the virus has on these outcomes.

The Zika virus can be compared to human cytomegaloviruses (CMV). Both Zika and CMV have been found to cause to incidences of microcephaly. Compared to Zika, researchers have confirmed a strong association between CMV with birth defects in overall, including microcephaly (Akpan, 2016). According to Katherine Spindler, a virologist at the University of Michigan, CMV has been found for a long time to adversely impact fetal development, certainly at a much higher rate compared to the Zika virus in the United States today (Akpan, 2016). Additionally, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) estimates that close to 750 babies in America are either delivered already affected with or come to suffer from severe health defects because of CMV infections during pregnancy (Akpan, 2016). The results of a 1995 nationwide survey that determined the CMV prevalence in the U.S. revealed that about 40 percent of congenital CMV incidences (incidences identified at birth) are likely to report microcephaly.

Generally, statistics show that over 5,000 children born in America every year develop permanent health problems due to CMV infections during pregnancy (Akpan, 2016). These statistics show that both the Zika and CMV are significant threats today. Whereas the Zika virus is spread primarily through mosquito bites and sexual intercourse, CMV can be transmitted through direct via direct inter-human contact with bodily fluids, such as urine, saliva, breast and milk (de Paula Freitas et al., 2016; Akpan, 2016). Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that just like CMV, the connection between the Zika virus and brain defects is still subject to thorough research to completely understood, however preliminaries studies indicate that the virus attacks stem cells in the course of early brain development besides contributing to the destruction of other brain tissues. The loss destruction of stem cells at this early period may undermine the fetal brain from developing correct structure (Rolfe et al., 2016).

There have been many incidences of local outbreaks of the Zika virus infections in different parts of the world with the high prevalence of the virus reaching epidemic proportions in Brazil and other parts of the Americas. Recent evidence has confirmed elevated incidences of microcephalic babies coupled by extremely threatening outcomes caused by this infections within this population, which has been largely attributed to the rapid spread and high prevalence of the Zika virus in these regions (de Paula Freitas et al., 2016). As a result, the recent outbreaks of Zika virus infections have created a heated debate on whether women should be allowed to terminate their pregnancies in the current face of Zika virus. In fact, there have been reported increasingly calls for loosening existing restrictive abortion laws and regulations particularly as a response to the risk and threat of the Zika virus in many countries throughout southern America.

Many women are pushing for the revision of these laws in the face of the Zika virus prevalence. The dangers that the virus poses to the development of fetus has triggered a momentum call for the revision of the laws in El Salvador; a country where termination or pregnancy is strictly prohibited regardless of the reason or circumstance. There has been reported similar movement in Colombia, with the phenomenal uprising receiving support even from government officials. Similarly, there has been also lack of consensus on whether to allow women affected by the Zika virus to terminate their pregnancies in Brazil.

However, this movement has been subject to marked criticism championed by religious authorities who have been mounting determined opposition. The critics hold on to the narrative that procuring abortion amounts to killing, health unethical. Moreover, some medical practitioners arguing that allowing Zika stricken women to pursuing abortion can consequently lead to increased cases of illegal, back-alley abortions. This tussle results into a stalemate where two groups with competing arguments fight for their concerns to outpace those of their opponents. Therefore, there is a need for empirical evidence from systematic investigations to inform the arguments on this issue to help both sides to arrive at an amicable and effective solution.

There are two major issues that resulted to the momentum call for the revision of current restrictive abortion laws to allow women to terminate their pregnancies - the increased outbreaks of the Zika virus and the threat of the virus to fetal development. The aftermath of the April 2015 Zika epidemic outbreak in Brazil has seen the virus spread to other areas of the Americas (Hennessey, Fischer & Staples, 2016). In 2015 alone, over 1 million people in Brazil got infected by this virus, which demonstrated the potential of the virus to multiply into epidemic outbreaks particular in areas where the biological vectors exist (Hennessey, Fischer & Staples, 2016). Hennessey, Fischer & Staples (2016) further observed that six months following the outbreak of the virus in Brazil witnessed elevated rates of infants delivered with microcephaly with 1248 new suspected incidences being reported, which is equivalent to a rate of 99.7 per 100,000 live births (de Paula Freitas et al., 2016).

Additionally, de Paula Freitas et al. (2016) reported that the Ministry of Health in Brazil documented 3174 newborns affected by microcephaly. The recent high prevalence of microcephalic cases among newborns not only in Brazil, but throughout region of the Americas has been directly linked to the increased ZIKV congenital infection because the virus has been detected in the amniotic fluid of a number of women who delivered babies with a significantly shrunken head circumference (Hennessey, Fischer & Staples, 2016). This life-threatening effect of the ZIKV infection coupled with its adverse impact on fetal development have caused many women to push for the revision of restrictive abortion laws to allow them to terminate their pregnancies.

Considering the increased infection of the Zika virus, systematic, clinical abortion is the best solution to solve the stalemate. With the current face of Zika virus infection, women should be allowed be allowed to terminate their pregnancies when they are affected by the virus. This solution will not only help them to avoid the risk of giving birth to microcephalic newborns, but to evaluate the risk that the virus has on these outcomes. Just imagine that you are a woman, and you have just conceived and learned that you have contracted the Zika virus. What would you do? Would you hesitate for a minute to terminate the gestation? It is apparent that women living in Zika stricken countries and particularly those who might consider terminating their pregnancies are left with very limited legal options.

Therefore, it is imperative need for better solutions to the Zika virus problem because infections are projected to rise in the Americas. This suggestion is logical because one of the concrete facts about the Zika virus is that there is no vaccine to prevent its infection. Furthermore, research confirm s that the virus adversely affects the normal brain development of the fetus, which results into permanent disabilities such as shrunken heads (Rolfe et al., 2016; ). With this in mind, it would be more ethical and fair not only to allow women to carry pregnancy for nine only to have a permanently disable child, but to have women endure the overwhelming burden of taking care of severe, mentally sick offspring. The major findings from this research culminated into the knowledge that besides microcephaly, the Zika virus infection can also cause hydrops fetalis and death of unborn babies (Sarno et al., 2016; de Paula Freitas et al., 2016).

Critics of abortion suggest alternative courses like preventing mosquito bites, for example by planning for trips. Equally, some critics suggest “delaying pregnancy” or using protective measures such as contraceptives and condoms when having sexual intercourse with a partner infected by the Zika virus as possible interventions for Zika prevention. However, these suggestions are not feasible because the majority of individuals infected by the virus do not become sick because the disease is relatively mild, with only 20 percent experiencing mild symptoms like fever, reddening of eyes, and joint pain, among others (Sarno et al., 2016). Also, the virus survives in human body a few days to a week, but it can survive longer in semen. Considering these factors, it becomes difficult to avoid mosquito bites or infection when travelling. Additionally, access to contraceptives is limited especially in some rural areas, besides religious authorities, especially in areas dominated by Roma Catholic, are against their use.

In conclusion, it is imperative to acknowledge that there has been a high prevalence of Zika virus outbreaks in southern American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Mexico, among others. Equally, high incidence of Microcephaly, hydrops fetalis, hydranencephaly, as well as fetal demise has been reported throughout the region of Americas. As a consequent, this many women are opting for abortion to avoid giving birth to mentally affected children. However, critics oppose this argument on the ground that it will trigger an increase in illegal abortions. Nonetheless, systematic, clinical abortion to help women to avoid the high risk the Zika virus can impart particularly on their unborn babies.