Zika virus antibodies detected in 9 people in Estonia
Zika virus antibodies have been detected in at least nine people in Estonia, hinting at possible contact with Zika virus fever.
According to the Estonian Health Board, not a single acute case of Zika virus fever has been reported in Estonia, and in their opinion Zika virus testing is not necessary; rather, they suggest consulting with the family doctor if flu-like symptoms should appear, reported ETV's nightly news broadcast "Aktuaalne kaamera."
"We have found IgG antibodies, which show that a person has at some point been in contact with the Zika virus or a similar virus," explained Paul Naaber, director of the infectious diseases domain at medical laboratory Synlab. "This does not mean that the patient has suffered from Zika virus fever."
Biomedicine professor Mart Ustav also found that [the presence of] antibodies indicate contact with the disease and protect rather than endanger patients.
"Perhaps they have been attacked by Zika virus-infected mosquitoes while traveling somewhere in tropical lands," posited Ustav. "This virus has entered their body and these people's immune sytems have identified the virus and produced antibodies which, during the subsequent period, have removed the Zika viruss from their bodies."
The professor stated that he did not believe that these individuals were infected with the virus but rather protected from it in any possible following phases.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik