In India, Kerala is the first state to have apparently report around 13 cases of Zika virus, which is a mosquito-borne viral infection. The first case was detected in the blood samples of a 24-year-old pregnant woman in Thiruvananthapuram. The condition of this lady is apparently stable as of now. And the samples of 13 people, suspected to be positive for the Zika virus have been sent to the National Institute of Virology based in Pune. Just like Dengue and Malaria, the Zika virus is a kind that spreads from the bite of mosquitoes. Here we take you through the main symptoms and prevention for the Zika virus.
What is Zika Virus?
Zika virus is causing birth defects in babies born to some infected pregnant women, these also include microcephaly, wherein babies are born with underdeveloped heads and brain damages. Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. It is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which generally bite during the day. This same mosquito is responsible for the spreading of Dengue, Chikungunya and several other serious diseases. Upon getting proper medical treatment the Zika virus can be removed from the body and in some cases the patient’s body eventually removes it.
What are the symptoms of the Zika Virus?
As revealed by WHO, the symptoms of the Zika virus include mild fever, rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache. These symptoms generally last for 2–7 days. Also, most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms at all. This viral infection has an increased risk of neurologic complications, which also trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis. Zika viral infection is particularly considered harmful for adults or growing children. Currently, there are no vaccines or cures for the Zika virus. The virus was first isolated in 1947 in Uganda’s Zika forest.
History of Zika Virus?
The outspread of the Zika virus is being reported from the 1960s and 1980s to today in many parts of the world. The first time it was reported was by the Africans, the Americans, Asians and the Pacific region people. The UN health agency advised people with such symptoms to get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and “treat pain and fever with common medicines.” Because the medical experts are still doing the research on the vaccine for the Zika virus.
In 2016, WHO called the Zika virus outspread to be an epidemic. The pandemics are primarily different in terms of the spread of contagious, infectious, or viral illnesses. An epidemic is limited to one specific region while a pandemic has a worldwide spread. Zika virus is an epidemic that was reported in Brazil in Feb 2016. India reported its first cases of Zika virus recently i.e July 2021.
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