Cross‐Sectional Psychological and Demographic Associations of Zika Knowledge and Conspiracy Beliefs Before and After Local Zika Transmission
Rachael Piltch‐LoebBrian J. Zikmund‐FisherVictoria A. ShafferLaura D. SchererMegan KnausAngie FagerlinDavid M. AbramsonAaron M. Scherer
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Abstract Perceptions of infectious diseases are important predictors of whether people engage in disease‐specific preventive behaviors. Having accurate beliefs about a given infectious disease has been found to be a necessary condition for engaging in appropriate preventive behaviors during an infectious disease outbreak, while endorsing conspiracy beliefs can inhibit preventive behaviors. Despite their seemingly opposing natures, knowledge and conspiracy beliefs may share some of the same psychological motivations, including a relationship with perceived risk and self‐efficacy (i.e., control). The 2015–2016 Zika epidemic provided an opportunity to explore this. The current research provides some exploratory tests of this topic derived from two studies with similar measures, but different primary outcomes: one study that included knowledge of Zika as a key outcome and one that included conspiracy beliefs about Zika as a key outcome. Both studies involved cross‐sectional data collections that occurred during the same two periods of the Zika outbreak: one data collection prior to the first cases of local Zika transmission in the United States (March–May 2016) and one just after the first cases of local transmission (July–August). Using ordinal logistic and linear regression analyses of data from two time points in both studies, the authors show an increase in relationship strength between greater perceived risk and self‐efficacy with both increased knowledge and increased conspiracy beliefs after local Zika transmission in the United States. Although these results highlight that similar psychological motivations may lead to Zika knowledge and conspiracy beliefs, there was a divergence in demographic association.Keywords:
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Abstract Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 but received little attention until 2015 when a large outbreak of Zika virus illness followed by an increased number of babies born with microcephaly occurred in Brazil. Zika virus spread rapidly throughout the Americas, and in 2016 was identified as a cause of microcephaly and other serious birth defects. Since that time, much has been learned about the Zika virus. The virus is primarily spread by the bite of Aedes species mosquitoes; however, other forms of transmission (e.g., sexual and intrauterine) have been recognized. Although postnatal Zika virus infection typically causes mild or no symptoms, effects on infants born to prenatally infected mothers can be severe and include structural birth defects and neurodevelopmental effects. The risk of a structural birth defect among infants born to mothers with confirmed or suspected Zika virus infection during pregnancy has ranged from 5 to 10%. The timing of Zika infection during pregnancy affects risk, with higher risks with the first‐trimester infection. Neurodevelopmental effects are seen even in infants who appear normal in the newborn period. Although cases of Zika virus infection have fallen in the Americas, the Zika virus remains an active threat in some regions of the world. The development of a Zika vaccine will require continued focus and investment. Until a Zika vaccine is available, prevention efforts for pregnant women include avoidance of travel to areas with active Zika transmission, avoidance of mosquito bites for those living in or traveling to areas with Zika transmission, and protection against sexual transmission.
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Zika fever is a self-limiting and acute infectious disease caused by Zika virus infection. It is mainly transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes of the Aedes type. It can also be spread through vertical transmission. There is evidence that it can also be sexually transmitted from a man to his sex partners due to the presence of the virus in semen. The re-emergence of the virus in 2015 as a major endemic in the South American countries (which may spread further) warrants better understanding of Zika virus. The outbreaks, transmission routes, virological characteristics and the diagnosis and treatment of Zika virus infection will be summarized in this review. Moreover, the potential correlations between newborn microcephaly and Zika virus infection as well as the possible molecular mechanisms for causing microcephaly such as cell autophagy will also be discussed.
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Zika virus; Vertical transmission; Newborn microcephaly; Cell autophagy
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Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a global health threat due to its unexpected causal link to devastating neurological disorders such as fetal microcephaly; however, to date, no approved vaccine or specific treatment is available for ZIKV infection. Here we develop a biomimetic nanodecoy (ND) that can trap ZIKV, divert ZIKV away from its intended targets, and inhibit ZIKV infection. The ND, which is composed of a gelatin nanoparticle core camouflaged by mosquito medium host cell membranes, effectively adsorbs ZIKV and inhibits ZIKV replication in ZIKV-susceptible cells. Using a mouse model, we demonstrate that NDs significantly attenuate the ZIKV-induced inflammatory responses and degenerative changes and thus improve the survival rate of ZIKV-challenged mice. Moreover, by trapping ZIKV, NDs successfully prevent ZIKV from passing through physiologic barriers into the fetal brain and thereby mitigate ZIKV-induced fetal microcephaly in pregnant mice. We anticipate that this study will provide new insights into the development of safe and effective protection against ZIKV and various other viruses that threaten public health.
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There is currently a large-scale epidemic of Zika virus infection in the Americas. For most people, infections caused by Zika virus lead to a mild and short-lived illness, but Zika has now been confirmed as the cause of fetal microcephaly and other birth defects, and it has been linked to certain neurological disorders. This article offers some insight into Zika virus infection, management of women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, and the implications of Zika virus for practising midwives in the UK.
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Zika virus is a flavivirus known to cause microcephaly during development. The mechanism underlying Zika virus-induced neuropathogenesis is still poorly understood. Recent studies have utilized the cutting edge cell culture and animal model technologies to elucidate factors contributing to Zika virus-associated microcephaly. While future work is needed, current studies have suggested three main factors that contribute to Zika virus pathology: viral lineage, host immunity, and pregnancy stages. This mini review will focus on some of the recent findings that advanced our knowledge in Zika virus-associated microcephaly.
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Zika virus infection is an important public health issue at present. The trichological manifestation of Zika virus infection is little mentioned in the literature. Here, the authors report a case presenting with ophiasis following Zika virus infection. According to our best knowledge, this is the first report on this problem.
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