Did you know about Zika Virus? |
1. What is Zika Virus?
Zika virus is a flavirus which is related to viruses such as dengue virus or yellow fever virus. It is borne by Aedes mosquitoes which are also responsible for dengue virus transmission. This virus can infect brain neural cells.
Zika virus is a flavirus which is related to viruses such as dengue virus or yellow fever virus. It is borne by Aedes mosquitoes which are also responsible for dengue virus transmission. This virus can infect brain neural cells.
2. How can we get infected?
The primary mode of transmission of Zika virus to humans is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Inter-human transmissions can occur via sexual transmission, mother-to-child transmissions during pregnancy or after delivery, blood transfusions or organ transplantation
The primary mode of transmission of Zika virus to humans is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Inter-human transmissions can occur via sexual transmission, mother-to-child transmissions during pregnancy or after delivery, blood transfusions or organ transplantation
3. Symptoms and health consequences
After primary infection most of people do not develop symptoms. However, in about 20 % of people, clinical symptoms will appear 2-14 days after the bite. Those manifestations are usually mild and self-limiting. They include low fever about 38C, pruritic rash, pain of small joints of hands and feet, nonpurulent conjunctivitis and other symptoms such as headache, muscle pain and fatigue. In some people, Zika virus infection can give neurologic complications such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is characterized by the damage of nerve cells by a person’s own immune system causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis. Infection of women during the first weeks of pregnancy has been associated birth defects such as microcephaly and infant neurologic complications.
After primary infection most of people do not develop symptoms. However, in about 20 % of people, clinical symptoms will appear 2-14 days after the bite. Those manifestations are usually mild and self-limiting. They include low fever about 38C, pruritic rash, pain of small joints of hands and feet, nonpurulent conjunctivitis and other symptoms such as headache, muscle pain and fatigue. In some people, Zika virus infection can give neurologic complications such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is characterized by the damage of nerve cells by a person’s own immune system causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis. Infection of women during the first weeks of pregnancy has been associated birth defects such as microcephaly and infant neurologic complications.
4. Prevention
There is no vaccine for prevention of Zika virus. Preventive measures consist in avoiding mosquito bites using personal protection and eliminate/control mosquito breeding sites. Use of condom can reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
There is no vaccine for prevention of Zika virus. Preventive measures consist in avoiding mosquito bites using personal protection and eliminate/control mosquito breeding sites. Use of condom can reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
5. Treatment
Up until now, there is no treatment for Zika virus.
If the virus is contracted, follow doctor's recommendations.
Up until now, there is no treatment for Zika virus.
If the virus is contracted, follow doctor's recommendations.
