Zika Virus In Detail. In this article, you will read what is Zika Virus, symptoms of Zika Virus, diagnosis of Zika Virus, precautions of Zika Virus, treatment of Zika Virus, risk factors of Zika Virus, and how to treat mosquito bites.
What is Zika Virus?
Zika virus is a disease which is spread to people, primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are rash, fever, red eyes and joint pain. People who get infected by Zika usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital. Very rarely people die due to the Zika virus. But, during a pregnancy Zika virus can cause serious birth defects called microcephaly, as well as other fetal brain defects.
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human case was found and then outbreaks in tropical Africa, Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. Before 2007, 14 cases were reported and other cases were not recognized because their symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases.
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. And from then onwards it gets spread to various countries from time to time.
Zika Virus In Detail
Symptoms Of Zika Virus:
It takes a few days to a week for exposure to symptoms of the Zika virus. The most common symptoms are fever, joint pain, rash and red eyes. Other symptoms may include headache and muscle pain. As its symptoms are much alike to other diseases that’s why it takes much time to get recognized.
Consult a doctor immediately if you are pregnant and develop a fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes within 2 weeks after travelling from the area affected by the Zika virus. The symptoms are usually mild and last from several days to weeks. Very rarely people die from this disease and also do not get enough sick to go to the hospital. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week, but it can be found longer in some people. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
Diagnosis Of Zika Virus:
The symptoms of Zika are alike to those of Dengue and Chikungunya. These diseases are spread through the same mosquitoes, which play an active role in transmitting Zika. Consult the doctor immediately if you have travelled to any Zika-affected area and developed the symptoms of the Zika virus. The doctor will take some tests to determine which of the disease your body is affected by.
Precaution Of Zika Virus:
There are not any vaccines or medicine to get prevention from Zika virus. There are several ways to treat the symptoms. If you get a fever or any other symptoms develop try to take plenty of rest. Drink fresh juices and much water to avoid dehydration. Take paracetamol to reduce the pain and fever. Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding. If you have Zika, avoid mosquito bites in the first week of developed symptoms. A mosquito can spread the Zika virus if it is affected initially.
Point To Ponder:-
1-No vaccines are formed to prevent Zika virus.
2-Zika virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes during the daytime.
3-Mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.
4-You should prevent the Zika virus by avoiding mosquito bites.
5-Use condoms during sex to avoid the Zika virus.
Transmission Of Zika Virus:
1-A mosquito bite:
Zika virus is an insect transmission disease which is transferred to humans by biting of mosquito as in the case of dengue. All you have to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites.
2-From mother to child:
A pregnant woman can pass the Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy. Zika is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. A pregnant woman already infected with the Zika virus can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth.
3-Through sexual contact:
Zika virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners. In known cases of sexual transmission, men developed Zika virus symptoms. From these cases, we know the virus can be spread when the man has symptoms before symptoms start and after symptoms resolve.
4-Through blood transfusion:
There have not been any confirmed blood transfusion transmission cases in the United States. There have been multiple reports of blood transfusion transmission cases in Brazil. These reports are currently being investigated.
Risk Factors Of Zika Virus:
Anyone who lives in or travels to an area where the Zika virus is found and has not already been infected with the Zika virus can get it from mosquito bites. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
If you have Zika, protect others from getting sick.
-During the first week of infection, the Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.
-To help prevent others from getting sick, strictly follow the above-given steps to prevent mosquito bites during the first week of illness.
Zika virus can be spread during sex by a man infected with Zika to his sex partners. To help prevent the spreading of Zika from sex, you can use condoms, correctly from start to finish, every time you have sex.
Treatment Of Zika Virus:
-Get plenty of rest.
-Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
-Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
-Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.
-If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your doctor or another healthcare provider before taking additional medication.
-If you have Zika, prevent mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.
-During the first week of infection, the Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.
-An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.
How To Avoid Mosquito Bites?
The areas which are highly affected by the Zika virus or other various diseases that are spread by mosquitoes should follow the following steps to avoid mosquito bites. Follow the following steps to avoid mosquito bites:-
-Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants or pyjamas.
-Stay in an area which is window or closed and air conditioning, to keep mosquitoes outside.
-If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites at night sleep in the bed net.
-Use various insect or mosquito repellents that have the following active ingredients; DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-methane-diol.
-Do not use mosquito repellent on babies under 2 months old.
-Do not use products younger than 3 years old which contain para-methane-diol or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
-Covers your child’s arms and legs.
-Cover your baby crib, stroller and baby carries with a net.
If you are returning back to your home place from an area affected by the Zika virus take the above precautionary measures to avoid Zika fever spreading to others.
featured image source: https://www.cdc.gov/