Introduction of Zika virus in Bangladesh: An impending public health threat

A K M Muraduzzaman; Sharmin Sultana; Tahmina Shirin; Selina Khatun; MdTarikul Islam; Mahmudur Rahman

doi:10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.08.015

Introduction of Zika virus in Bangladesh: An impending public health threat

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2017 Sep;10(9):925-928. doi: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.08.015. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Authors

A K M Muraduzzaman¹, Sharmin Sultana¹, Tahmina Shirin², Selina Khatun³, MdTarikul Islam⁴, Mahmudur Rahman⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Virology, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
² Department of Virology, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: tahmina.shirin14@gmail.com.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁴ Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁵ Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

PMID: 29080624
DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.08.015

Abstract

Objective: To explore the presence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Bangladesh and to understand the associated risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective sero-surveillance was performed on stored serum samples of dengue surveillance conducted from 2013 to 2016. Real time RT-PCR was performed on randomly selected acute serum samples to detect the Zika virus nucleic acid.

Results: Of 200 samples screened, one was found positive for ZIKV by real time RT-PCR and further confirmed by genome sequencing. The case was a 65 years old male from a metropolitan city of Bangladesh who had no history of travel outside Bangladesh. Phylogenetic analysis of partial E gene sequences from Bangladeshi isolates demonstrated a close relationship with ZIKV from Brazil and current South American strains clustering within a monophyletic clade distinct from African lineage.

Conclusions: Presence of ZIKV raises serious public health concerns in Bangladesh owing to its association with congenital anomalies/neurological-manifestations. We, therefore, recommend every suspected viral fever patient, particularly pregnant women be screened for ZIKV infection to rule out yet another emerging infection in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Public health impact; Zika virus.