Zika, Dengue, Yellow Fever & Syphilis Cause & Care

Prof. George A. Farber, Sr., MD
Col. U.S.A. (R), U.S.A.F, M.C. (Ret)
Founder, President American Academy of Medical Detectives (AAOMD)
3708 N Loyola Dr, Kenner. LA. Apt 115. 
Kenner, LA 70065
504-583-4593

Zika is a long known viral infectious disease indigenous in man-like, creatures, namely monkeys, abiding in Africa. Monkeys do not travel, man does. Man (humans) that become infected carry the disease far and wide, thereby creating new areas of indigency, and can create epidemics wherever mosquitoes exist, to become vectors.

Monkeys in indigenous areas have adapted and developed levels of immunity for survival, but become carriers, which results in prolonging the disease entity.

As with all creature and forms of life, the proposition of “survival of the fittest” prevails.

Humans will adapt, develop immunity and mostly survive, although there will be the aspects of fetal defects, that may occur in pregnant females that become infected. Mosquitoes wherever they exist, are the main vectors or transfer agents. Mosquitoes suck blood with non-specific selectivity and thereby transfer the disease to other creatures and humankind as well.

These vectors historically have started other epidemics of huge proportions and consequences, such as Yellow Fever, Malaria, and Dengue Fever.

Once infected, humans become carriers. The virus colonizes in blood, lymphatic, brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and various organs, such as salivary glands, prostate, seminal glands and other depot organs and structures.

Humans can become a vector or transmitter agent when they become carriers. They can spread the disease by transfusions, sexual exposures, via mosquitoes or by incidental exposure such as via reused syringes and needles, condoms, and other vehicles.

Zika is similar to Dengue Fever Virus, as noted macroscopically. The visual appearance compares to other known diseases, similar in appearance but different in antigenicity, and other aspects.

There are Public Heath similarities as to both Zika and Syphilis epidemics and pandemics. Syphilis was endemic in South American mammals (Llamas) and spread to humans by sexual exposure and possibly by other vectors.

T he native humans lived with the disease for centuries. When the European explorers and conquistadors arrived, they quickly contracted the disease, and those that survived and returned to Europe, promptly created a pandemic of huge consequences. 

The death rate in Europe was huge. However, more likely than not, the death rate was related to the palliative medications prescribed, consisting of heavy metals such as Mercurials.

There has never been a spirochetocidal cure. There is no evidence of immunity to Syphilis. There are reasonable medication treatments for control of progression of this disease.

However, the human body has other natural defenses, such as localization by granuloma formation which essentially corals the spirochetes in tissues, including the brain. Antibody development may occur, but is not curative.

So, what is the cure for Zika?

That remains to be seen. There are many ways to control this disease well ensconced in Public Health measures and with International Agencies working together with regional and local organizations. However, there is a need for immediate treatment, to be followed by mass protective measures, such as a vaccine to be manufactured and made available. Such vaccine treatment is expensive in time and financial aspects and cooperative efforts.

In the meantime, there are safe, good, valuable, effective and available treatments for immediate impact. They worked exceedingly well in Vietnam in 1966-1967, once the diagnosis of Dengue Fever was ascertained and epidemic aspects determined by sheer numbers, by a Flight Surgeon-Dermatologist-Syphillologist and an Internal Medical Infectious Disease Physician, Chief of Internal Medicine at Cam Ranh Bay U.S.A.F Hospital, Vietnam.

There being no specific anti-viral treatment at that time or place, supportive treatments and measures were in good order. The approach was simplified. This consisted of immediate notice and supportive education to responsible Military Chain of Command, medical personal locally and via chain of command to all medical personal in the S.E Asia theater.

Logistic support included adequate supplies of medication, sufficient for the projected case load in the combat and adjacent areas, plus the entire theater, and military and civilian and merchant marine contract ”assets”.

The Public Health measures required inclusion of theater personal as well as all personal rotating back to USA or other assignments, both mosquito indemic and non-mosquito habitats.

The available medication for immediate treatment consisted of a broad Spectrum, reliable, safe Macrolide antibiotic that was relatively new. That injectable product was Lincomycin-HCL*, 300 mg/cc, provided in multi-dose vials that did not require refrigeration.

The second medication, also reliably safe for IM injection, was repository injectable Methyl-Prednisolone, (Depo-Medrol)* (40 mg/cc) in multi-dose vials, refrigeration not required. This medication remains today as an excellent repository anti-inflammatory medication.

The initial and continued rationale was to “Clean House” of any minor or occult infection; prophylactically prevent any opportunistic new infection from interfering with the presumed immunity system to develop antibodies for the Dengue Fever Virus, (Divide & Conquer Philosophy); allowing the immune system to concentrate on the Dengue Fever.

The target was any minor or occult infection such as sinusitis (nasopharyngeal), dental focal abscesses, common-place acneiform infections of face, scalp, and full body, minor genito–urinary infection, follicular micro- abscess infection, micro joint infection, etc.

This empiric treatment was by single IM dose injection of Lincomycin HCL, 450 mg (1.5 cc).

The second medication (Methyl-Prednisolone) was to treat the inflammatory aspect of the disease process, both internally and cutaneously.

The manifestations included edema, erythema multiforme rashes, pruritus, cephalalgia, arthralgia, vertigo, nasopharyngeal signs and symptoms, malaise and fever, and internal tissue inflammation, presumed but not specifically identified.

Note: Laboratory testing typically not available in combat areas.

The above approach worked, and worked well and immediately. There were no reported nor identified adverse reactions or delayed side effects of any kind. The average patient was declared “fit for duty “after one week. An occasional patient required a second dose of each medication after one week. None required further treatments. Thousands of troops were involved.


Lessons learned;

Rapid diagnosis, rapid treatment, rapid Public Heath reaction and logistical support resulting in rapid care and containment.

Because of the similarity of Zika and Dengue Fever, there may be sufficient rationale to initiate the same immediate treatment as was successful in Vietnam, for Zika infections

Note (A).

This author was that Flight Surgeon Dermatologist and Syphillologist in Vietnam. The internist (Lt/Col. at that time) was promoted to full Colonel and later retired and became a Chief of Staff at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas, Frederick “Bud” Conrad, MD (Deceased).

Note (B).

Lincomycin* & Depo-Medrol*; Pfizer Pharmaceutical. Co.