The University of Airlangga Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) ready to help diagnose patients who are likely to be infected by the Zika virus. Head of ITD Unair, Professor Maria Inge Lusida revealed, the laboratory owned by his institution was able to detect the virus transmitted through Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
“To confirm whether there is a virus or not Zika, laboratory examination should be done. We can do that, ” she said.
Although she revealed, until now it has not been requested cooperation by the Ministry of Health But Inge sure, ITD Unair will not refuse if the community ask independently. “If there is someone who sends a sample personally, yes we are ready” she said.
In Indonesia, Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology has discovered this virus in Indonesia in 2015. Of the 200 samples whose symptoms are similar to dengue fever, there is one positive virus with Zika in Jambi. According to Deputy Director Eijkman Herawati Sudoyo, the virus was found on a blood sample of a 27-year-old male patient who had never traveled abroad.
Inge added, Zika virus was also found in 1977-1978. Seven blood samples with the virus were found in patients treated at Tegalyoso Hospital, Klaten, Central Java.
Inge requested that people do not need to panic about the news circulating about the virus Zika. Because, handling same as Dengue Fever. The key is to be vigilant. “What’s clear is that if you start having a fever early and not know what causes it, immediately check your blood.”
To date, more than 20 countries, including Brazil, have reported the occurrence of Zika virus infection cases. Most infections are mild, even without symptoms, despite reports of a paralysis disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The biggest threat is believed to occur in the mother’s pregnancy up to the unborn fetus. There are about 4,000 cases of microcephaly-babies born with small brains-in Brazil since last October. World health organization, WHO even declared the international emergency status due to the spread of this Zika virus.
Author : Farid A Zakaria