CING says can help detect Zika virus

THE Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) announced on Friday that it can provide the molecular method indicated for the detection of the Zika virus.

According to the U.S. Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the corresponding European Centre (eCDC), the molecular method is the official detection method of the virus, the CING said.

The Institute added that the Zika virus, which belongs to the Flavivirus genus of viruses, has the RNA genome and is mainly transmitted through mosquitoes.

“It is the virus that recently caused global concern, as it has been associated with neonatal microcephaly if the pregnant mother is infected. It can also cause encephalitis although in most cases it gives clinical cold symptoms,” the CING said.

It added that “detection with antibodies (IgG and IgM), can only be advisory and not definite, because of the large number of cross-reactions between other antibodies related to the Zika virus (Flavivirus)”.

For information as regards the Zika virus and its detection, call the CING’s department of Molecular Virology on 22392743, 22392647 or visit http://www.cing.ac.cy/

 

 

 

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