In the footsteps of Zika… approaching the unknown

University of Geneva via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/zika

Introduction

### Course Review: In the Footsteps of Zika… Approaching the Unknown **Platform:** Coursera **Offered by:** Université de Genève, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Descartes, Centre Virchow-Villermé --- **Overview** The online course "In the Footsteps of Zika… Approaching the Unknown" is a comprehensive, on-demand MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) that digs deep into the Zika virus phenomenon. It is produced by reputable institutions like the Université de Genève and Institut Pasteur, making it a reliable source of knowledge in the field of virology and public health. This course navigates the complexities surrounding the emergence of the Zika virus, its global implications, and the multifaceted strategies required to combat its effects. The course covers a range of topics, including the biological aspects of the virus, its transmission mechanisms, neurological impacts, and socio-economic challenges in addressing outbreaks. With contributions from international experts, the course aims to provide a holistic understanding of the Zika virus, making it a must-take for anyone interested in public health and infectious diseases. --- **Course Structure** The course is divided into eight detailed modules: 1. **Introducing Zika Virus, Its Vectors, and Its Hosts** This module discusses the basic biology of the Zika virus, including its life cycle, vectors (primarily mosquitoes), and transmission to humans. The discussions are led by experts like Prof. Duane Gubler and Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, combining historical context with current findings. 2. **Following the Tracks of Zika Virus** Explore the factors contributing to the virus's spread, focusing on globalization and climate change. Learn how environmental shifts propel the virus into new areas—a critical consideration for global health policies. 3. **Prevention and Control** This section details historical and contemporary strategies for vector control, addressing the challenges faced in eradicating mosquitoes and discussing innovative ecological approaches. 4. **Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment** Understand the clinical challenges posed by Zika virus infections, including the lack of specific treatments and the intricacies of diagnosis amidst a largely asymptomatic population. 5. **Zika and Neurological Adverse Effects** Deepen your insight into the concerning neurological consequences of Zika, particularly microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré Syndrome in adults, through case studies from Brazil and French Polynesia. 6. **Inequity in Front of Zika Exposure and Outcomes** The course takes a socio-political lens to examine the disparities in Zika exposure and healthcare access, focusing on vulnerable populations in Brazil and the implications for women's reproductive rights. 7. **How to Deal with Zika: WHO and International Health Organizations' Perspectives** Gain an understanding of the global health response to the Zika outbreak and reflect on lessons learned from past public health crises, such as the Ebola outbreak. 8. **The Zika Phenomenon Through Media and Economic & Political Challenges** This module analyzes how media coverage influences public perception and political action regarding Zika, highlighting its socio-economic impacts on tourism and public health in Latin America. --- **Review and Recommendation** Each module is meticulously designed, featuring a blend of lectures, case studies, and expert interviews. The structure ensures that participants progressively build their understanding of the virus and its implications, making complex topics accessible and engaging. **Pros:** - **Expert Instruction:** The course is led by knowledgeable faculty and experts in the field, providing learners with a wealth of information backed by research. - **Comprehensive Content:** Coverage of both biological and socio-economic aspects makes this course unique among public health offerings. - **Flexibility:** Being an on-demand course, it allows for self-paced learning, catering to different schedules and learning preferences. **Cons:** - **Complexity:** For those new to virology or public health, some sections may be difficult to grasp without a foundational knowledge of the subject. - **Limited Interaction:** As a MOOC, the interaction may be less personal than traditional learning settings, which could be a drawback for some learners. **Recommendation** I highly recommend "In the Footsteps of Zika… Approaching the Unknown" to anyone interested in public health, epidemiology, or virology, as well as professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of emerging infectious diseases. This course provides essential insights into the Zika virus's biology and societal implications, contributing significantly to the discourse on global public health in a rapidly changing world. By the end of the course, you will not only broaden your knowledge of Zika but also gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges presented by vector-borne diseases in the context of globalization and climate change. Join this enlightening course to better prepare yourself for the ever-evolving challenges of infectious diseases.

Syllabus

Introducing Zika virus, its vectors and its hosts

Module 1 introduces Zika virus as a whole. In this module you will increase your knowledge about the virus, its life cycle, its possible mutation, and its transmission patterns through different vectors and hosts (mosquitoes and human beings). You will learn also about its discovery and the possible origin of the current outbreak that started in Brazil and spread out through South America. Finally, we will discover together the strategy developed by this virus to develop and evolve to survive. Prof. Duane Gubler will start by talking about the Emergence of Zika virus and its different hosts and vectors, followed by Dr. Anna-Bella Failloux who will make you discover the cycle of Zika virus and its vectors, all travelling together. Finally, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove will close this module by covering the sexual transmission of Zika virus and its persistency in body fluids.

Following the tracks of Zika virus

Module 2 relates how Zika virus left the remote African forests towards new destinations across the world partly by globalization and climate change. In this module you will increase your knowledge about the developing of a “love story” with human beings through globalisation. You will also learn how shifts in precipitation levels and temperature caused by climate change, and notably el Niño and la Niña phenomenons, may result into increased survival and/or migration of the virus through vectors into previously non-endemic geographic areas outside the tropical areas. You will also get better knowledge in the characteristics of the recent Zika outbreak in Brazil by local specialists. Dr. Frédéric Simard will start with the relationship between globalization and increased mosquito preference for humans. Then Joint Prof. Aline Philibert and Prof. Antoine Flahault will show you how climate changes can be indirectly and/or directly related to the transmission of Aedes and then Zika virus. Finally, Prof. Aluisio Cotrim Segurado and Prof. Paolo Zanotto of the University of São Paulo will describe the emergence of the outbreak as well as risks and challenges associated with.

Prevention and control

Module 3 presents the different types of vector prevention and control. You will get knowledge on the history of vector control and the lessons we have learnt over time. You will also be taught about large-scale control programmes that are now taking place to eradicate mosquitoes in many parts of the world. Beside the common use of insecticides you will explore one new “ecological” technology based on a bacteria that live within the mosquito Aedes. Prof. James Webb will start by talking about the history of vector control and eradication over time. Then, Dr. Frédéric Simard will explain who should be targeted first to prevent vector and virus transmission. You will explore with Prof. John Vontas the molecular analysis of insecticide resistance in major mosquito vectors from mechanisms to resistance management. Finally, Prof. Scott O’Neill will explain you the new and ecofriendly technology of vector control with the Wolbachia bacteria.

Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

This module addresses symptoms, diagnosis and treatment regarding Zika infection. You will discover the challenges related to the two main types of diagnoses, clinical and biochemical (molecular or serological) diagnoses. You will learn that most cases are asymptomatic cases and this causes an issue to forecast virus origin and its transmission to new areas. You will also learn that currently licenced vaccines or medicines to treat Zika are missing. For now, treatment consists of relieving pain, fever, and any other symptoms. Prof. Patrice Bourée will start by listing the known symptoms and diagnosis. You will learn with Prof. Laurent Kaiser about the paradox between the limitation in clinical investigation and the strong technology currently available. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove will explain you the different types of diagnoses and their limitations. Prof. Ester Sabino will tell you the diagnostic challenges they experienced at the beginning of the Zika outbreak in Brazil. Finally, Dr. Paulo Lee Ho and Dr. In-Kyu Yoon will close the module by telling you how the race is on to develop a Zika vaccine.

Zika and neurological adverses effects

This module addresses what is known and what is unknown about the neurological adverse effects of Zika virus, especially based on observations and research studies carried out in French Polynesia and in Brazil. In this module you will gain knowledge about the association between Zika infection in mothers and microcephaly in foetus in Brazil as well as the increased Guillain-Barré Syndrome in adults during the Zika outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013-2014. Prof. Olivier Picone, gynecologist-obstetrician, will explain the mechanisms of Zika infection and its health consequences. Dr. Patricia Jungmann will present us the race against time to understand the increased of microcephaly cases in Northeastern Brazil at the beginning of the outbreak and how doctors and scientists worked hand in hand to find clues to better understand the phenomenon. You will learn how the fear of microcephaly is becoming a nightmare for pregnant Brazilian women or those who would like to fall pregnant with Prof. Aluisio Cotrim Segurado and Prof. Laura Rodrigues. Prof. Tom Solomon and Prof. Arnaud Fontanet will close the module with the neurological effects of Zika in adults, notably regarding the Guillain-Barré syndrome that recently occurred in many infected cases in French Polynesia.

Inequity in front of Zika exposure and outcomes

The module 6 presents the inequity existing between poor and wealthy communities in the fight against Zika virus in Brazil and South America. You will learn that decades of rapid and chaotic urbanization have left many impoverished areas without basic sanitation, putting the poor at far greater risk of contracting Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses. Aside from the dangers that come with the spread of this disease, you will learn how inequity is aggravated by difference of access to health care, socio-economical support, and limited reproductive rights in this region. Finally, the module will make you better understand the fact that women’s rights and reproductive issues in the South America landscape are highly controversial topics. You will also better understand how Zika virus is starting a legal revolution regarding abortion right, while it has always been largely illegal and seen as a taboo in many countries in South America. Dr. Serge Rabier will start by describing the anthropological perspective related to the health crisis of Zika in South America. You will learn with Prof. Helena Ribeiro the inequity regarding exposure to virus in favelas and elsewhere. Dr. Ester Sabino will talk about contraception and abortion challenges for women in Brazil. Finally, Dr. Flávia Bulegon Pilecco will close the module by telling us how Zika is fuelling a new debate over legal and safe abortion in South America.

How do deal with Zika: WHO and international health organizations' perspectives

The module 7 explains how the recent Zika outbreak, the cluster of microcephaly cases and neurological events occurring at the same time and place (mainly Brazil) resulted in a public health emergency of international concern. You will learn about the role and duties of international organizations and the fact that this is the first time the global scientific community commits to sharing data on Zika. You will be exposed by discussions related to the fact that WHO and other partners seek to learn from their failure regarding the Ebola crisis, after they were heavily criticised for their slow response. Prof. David Heymann will start by explaining how Zika became a public health emergency of international concern. Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, Dr. Sylvie Briand and Dr. In-Kyu Yoon will debate for us on the roles and duties of international organizations to ensure that proportionate actions are taken and what lessons we learnt from the past outbreaks.

The Zika phenomenon through medias and economical & political challenges

In this module you will better understand how Zika virus has been controlled or uncontrolled by the medias in the era of social networks, and what could be the role of the medias regarding prevention and control of the Zika disease in South and Latin America.The module 8 reports how the Zika phenomenon has been hitting the headlines over the past months. You will learn that aside from the health risks it poses, Zika also affects economy and politics in South America. You will be exposed to the economic adverse effects of Zika on touristic hotspots in Latin America and on the coming Olympic games in Brazil. Dr. Paul Benkimoun will start by making a summary of what has been reported in headlines in the past few months. Dr. Jean-Yves Nau will make an analysis of the different ingredients the Zika phenomenon is constructed of in the news, such as health, politics and economy. Margaret Harris will tell us the importance of the transparency and the adequacy of the messages that should be disseminated to the public. Dr. Anneliese Depoux will let us know what are the raise of awareness via social networks. Finally, Dr. Josselin Thuilliez will close the module by debating on economical issues related to the Zika phenomenon.