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■清潔工人在委內瑞拉滅蚊。資料圖片
當前，寨卡熱在巴西等南美國家急速蔓延，引發世界關注。
寨卡熱是由寨卡病毒引起的一種蚊媒傳染病，症狀與登革熱相似。目前，此病毒正在南美洲發生「爆炸式」傳播，迄今已有23個國家和地區向世界衛生組織上報病例。寨卡病毒除了令感染人體出現輕微發熱、皮疹和結膜炎等溫和症狀，最令人擔憂的是，病毒有可能令懷孕母親產下小頭症畸形胎兒，令嬰兒出現發育障礙或致死。
然而，由於病毒不像伊波拉病毒般擁有高度傳染性，而且暫未有全面威脅發達國家，故各藥廠未有致力研究該病毒，相關疫苗研發工作滯後，目前尚沒有藥物可以預防和治療寨卡熱，意味着如果未能及早將病毒控制，不排除病毒肆虐全球可能性，這也是近日世衛組織召開緊急會議的主因。
當局應盡快加強病例通報機制，令相關部門隨時掌握疫情的最新動向，並統一籌劃全港性的滅蚊行動，遏抑蚊患。廣大市民短期內應避免前往疫情嚴重的拉美地區，降低感染風險，保障個人健康。 （文匯報社評30-1-2016）
Zika outbreak in South America should alert HK
Zika fever has drawn worldwide attention as it is spreading rapidly in South American countries such as Brazil.
Zika fever is a mosquito-borne illness caused by the Zika virus, with symptoms similar to those of dengue fever. The virus is spreading explosively in South America, with 23 countries and regions reporting cases to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In addition to mild symptoms like low-grade fever, rash and conjunctivitis, infection in pregnant women might lead to newborn microcephaly-infants with abnormally small head-resulting in developmental disorders or even death of the baby.
However, since Zika virus is not considered highly contagious like the Ebola virus, developed countries are not prone to major threats. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have not been keen on investing in vaccines and research progress is lacking. With no vaccine or specific treatment for the illness, failure to contain the vaccine might lead to a worldwide outbreak. The WHO has called for an emergency meeting in response.
The Hong Kong government should strengthen notification mechanism of Zika cases, so that relevant government organs would be well aware of new developments in the pandemic. Coordinated efforts should be put into anti-mosquito measures. The public should also pay attention and refrain from travelling to Latin America, where the virus is swiftly spreading, avoiding the risk of being infected.
■Jeffrey Tse [ywc_jeffrey@hotmail.com]
Learning Point
寨卡病毒經蚊傳播，疫情於南美急速擴散。以下為與蚊媒傳染病有關的詞彙，讀者可多加留意。
Zika fever 寨卡熱
寨卡熱是一種由寨卡病毒引起的蚊媒傳染病。病徵包括發燒、皮疹、結膜炎、肌肉或關節疼痛和疲累，有可能令懷孕母親產下小頭症畸形胎兒。
Microcephaly 小頭症
有小頭症的人的預期壽命會減短，而大腦功能方面也很難趨於正常。
Dengue fever/ breakbone fever
登革熱
由登革熱病毒引起的由蚊子傳播的熱帶病，症狀包括發熱、頭痛、肌肉和關節痛，小部分患者病情可進一步惡化，出現登革出血熱，威脅生命。
Aedes aegypti 埃及伊蚊
登革熱、黃熱病和寨卡熱都由此蚊傳播，可見於熱帶以及亞熱帶地區。
Aedes albopictus 白紋伊蚊
主要來自東南亞，與埃及伊蚊同為登革熱的病媒蚊。
隔星期三見報
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