{"id":5076,"date":"2016-02-11T12:02:42","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T11:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/02\/11\/onderzoekers-erasmus-mc-in-suriname-voor-zika-virus\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:18","slug":"onderzoekers-erasmus-mc-in-suriname-voor-zika-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/02\/11\/onderzoekers-erasmus-mc-in-suriname-voor-zika-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"Erasmus MC researchers study zika virus in Surinam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPieter van Maele<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Like many other parts of South and Central America, Surinam is suffering a zika epidemic. Erasmus MC doctors and researchers are collaborating with Surinamese researchers at Paramaribo\u2019s Academic Medical Centre (AZP) to determine the consequences of the mosquito-borne virus. Virologist Eric van Gorp is spending this week in Surinam.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp till now, the zika virus has been relatively innocuous, compared with other diseases, like dengue and chikungunya,\u201d Van Gorp reported from Paramaribo. Nearly every person living in Surinam comes down with it at some point in their lives, generally without serious consequences. However, zika has now been linked to paralysis disorder (Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome) and birth defects (microcephaly). Erasmus MC and AZP researchers hope to find out whether there really is a relationship.<\/p>\n

Not panicking<\/h3>

\u201cIn situations like this, what often happens is that one report will be picked up by the media, who will then present it as the \u2018truth\u2019,\u201d said Van Gorp. A few weeks ago, images of babies with very small heads \u2013 a condition called microcephaly \u2013 made headlines the world over. \u201cOur view of the situation is determined by exceptional cases,\u201d stated Van Gorp. In Surinam, however, no one is panicking. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t yet been demonstrated that there is a direct link. Surinam does often see cases of Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, but no one is sure whether these are caused by zika virus. \u201d While it is true that the 75-year-old Dutch tourist who recently died in Surinam had been infected with zika, it has not yet been demonstrated that zika was in fact the cause of his death.<\/p>\n

The investigation at AZP is part of an on-going collaboration between Surinamese scientists and the Erasmus MC. \u201cOur researchers regularly go to Surinam, to investigate how zika-like viruses affect the central nervous system,\u201d Van Gorp told us. Even so, he believes the World Health Organization (WHO) was right to raise the alarm and declare zika a public health emergency of international concern. \u201cIt is important that this virus receive more attention. Eighty percent of people get zika virus without suffering any ill effects. These cases involving microcephaly and Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome are just the tip of the iceberg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hundreds of patients<\/h3>

According to Van Gorp, all the required expertise has now been gathered in Surinam. \u201cWe are carrying out research on many levels. In addition to virologists, our group includes entomologists from Wageningen, who are investigating the mosquitoes. As for me, I\u2019m spending a lot of time with patients. We have hundreds of patients here, and the local doctors are very familiar with the clinical picture. Furthermore, we have specialist labs in the Netherlands carrying out more research, and they develop things which can be used here in Surinam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Intensive care<\/h3>

The current investigation involves three Erasmus MC departments, i.e. virology, neurology and intensive care medicine. \u201cOur neurologists are involved due to the research being conducted into Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, while our intensive care doctors can provide Paramaribo with additional respiration capacity, if necessary. They\u2019re already on call, so if more artificial respiration is required, they\u2019ll be ready to provide it,\u201d Van Gorp said.<\/p>\n\n\t

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