본 연구는 지카바이러스(ZIKV) 감염이 눈에 미치는 다양한 합병증을 제시하여 ZIKV 감염 예방의 중요성을 알리고자 연구하였다. ZIKV는 1952년 인체에서 처음 발견되었고, 2016년 브라질을 중심으로 남아메리카 대륙에서 폭발적인 감염을 일으키며 세계의 주목을 받게 되었다. ZIKV에 감염된 성인의 80%는 무증상 감염자이고 임산부를 통해 수직 감염되어 신생아에는 소두증 및 선천적 안구 장애를 합병증으로 가질 수 있음이 보고되었다. 눈은 고유의 혈액-망막 장벽을 가지고 안구를 보호하는 면역특권 기관이지만 바이러스 저장소 역할을 하여 ZIKV가 눈의 합병증을 유발한다는 최근의 학계 발표에 주목하고 있다. ZIKV의 감염 경로에 대해서는 활발히 연구 중이지만 지금까지는 백신이 없고 특별한 치료법이 없어 미리 예방하는 것만이 감염을 차단하는 유일한 방법이다. 특히, ZIKV 감염증은 태아 감염을 통한 잠재적 매개 변수를 가지는 더 위험성이 있기에 정부 당국과 지방 자치에서는 지속적 감시가 필요할 것으로 사료되어 이 논문을 제시한다.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is considered as potential vector of Zika virus in Republic of Korea (ROK). Vector control during mosquito season is one of critical factors for decline of viral transmission. Total 14 oversea travel-associated Zika cases by mosquito bite were reported throughout ROK from January to September 2016 and vector control and monitoring at surroundings of patient’s residences was carried out during three weeks after confirmation of the virus. Although population density rates of Ae. albopictus were remarkably various according to ecological surroundings, population density of Ae. albopictus near forest was higher than urban. All captured Aedes mosquitoes were used for detection of three flavivirus, Zika, Dengue and Chikunguya, using RT-PCR and any virus was not detected. Population density of Ae. albopictus decreased > 65% on average after vector control and in one area > 95% of population density decreased. Our data might reveal that vector monitoring and control at surroundings near residences of oversea travel-associated Zika patients might effectively prevent viral transmission by mosquito bite and naturalization of the virus in ROK.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an ongoing global public health emergency with 74 countries (Sep. 19 2016) and territories reporting evidence of ZIKV transmission since 2015. Total 14 cases of Zika have been reported since January 2016 and all cases have been suspected as infections by mosquito bite on overseas. Vector control strategy of comprehensive national Zika control strategies will be presented on this presentation. To efficiently control Ae. albopictus when Zika inflow into ROK, nine ministers of government held on Zika countermeasure meeting, checked preparatory attitudes and assigned roles of each minster for Zika control. Korea guidelines for Ae. albopictus control were distributed to local governments and related ministers of government and vector control agents in all local government were educated by vector control experts. To block transmission of Zika virus by mosquito bite from overseas travel-associated patients Zika patients in ROK, vector monitoring and control were carried out at surroundings near residences of patients and decreased vector population density.