Hotline for Zika virus: experience of a tropical and travel medicine unit

• Published in: Gaceta sanitaria Vol. 31; no. 6; p. 531
• Main Authors: Díaz-Menéndez, Marta, de la Calle-Prieto, Fernando, Arsuaga, Marta, Trigo, Elena, Guevara, Concepción Ladrón de, Barreiro, Pablo, Crespillo, Clara, Lago, Mar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-11-2017
• Subjects: Disease Outbreaks; Female; Hotlines; Humans; Latin America; Male; Spain; Time Factors; Travel Medicine - organization & administration; Travel-Related Illness; Tropical Medicine - organization & administration; Zika Virus Infection - prevention & control; Global health; Línea de atención telefónica; Hot line; Disease outbreak; Tropical medicine; Medicina tropical; Zika virus infection; Epidemia; Salud global; Infección por virus Zika
• ISSN: 1578-1283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.04.003

The current outbreak of Zika virus has caused great social alarm, generated in part by the lack of information in the general population. In order to provide accurate and verified information, the Tropical and Travel Medicine Unit of Hospital Carlos III-La Paz (Madrid, Spain) established a hotline for Zika virus infection. We present the data concerning the first 6 months of operation of the telephone hotline. The predominant call profile consisted of women seeking information about the risk of acquiring the disease before travelling. Brazil, Mexico and Colombia were the destinations for which the most information was requested. Most of the consultations were resolved by providing information only. The implementation of call devices that provide confirmed and reliable information on diseases associated with great alarm are of significant public health interest, as they reduce the number of unnecessary medical consultations and save on medical costs.