ABOUT ZIKA VIRUS

ZIKA Virus

ZIKA virus is a virus that is carried by Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are active during day time. The virus is named ZIKA after Zika forest in Uganda. This virus was first located in this forest. This virus was first isolated from others in the year 1947 by scientists. ZIKA virus is a close relative of Dengue, Yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis and West Nile virus.

ZIKA Infection

ZIKA infection in human is commonly known as ZIKA fever. Initially ZIKA fever does not have any symptoms or very mild symptoms. The symptoms are very similar to mild Dengue fever. All symptoms and conditions are no different from Dengue or similar viral fevers. Often it is mistaken as Dengue and the patients are treated as Dengue patients.

It is when a pregnant lady is infected by ZIKA virus, an alarming situation arises. The baby in mother’s womb may develop a brain development condition known as Microcephally. In such condition, the baby does not have a normally developed brain at birth and may suffer from in sufficient intelligence, reflexes and knowledge procurement process.

In adults, an association with a neurological condition has been observed. This condition is called Gullian- Barre condition. Patients suffer from painful nervine conditions in this disorder and they suffer much.

ZIKA locations

The infection was noticed from 1950 in Africa. It started spreading from Africa to Asia. It was travelling across a small equatorial belt. The virus kept on spreading eastward across Pacific Ocean. A major disease break was observed in 2013-2014 in Oceania. From there it spread to French Polynesia, new Carolina, the Cook Islands and the Easter Islands. In the year 2015, ZIKA outbreak took a pandemic shape in Mexico. It spread from there to Central America and South America.

In the year 2016, the US Centre for disease control and prevention issued restrictions in travelling to affected countries. They imposed increased precautions and banned pregnant women to travel to ZIKA affected countries. Many countries including Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica took similar steps and issued restriction orders which included getting pregnant until ZIKA remedies are found.

Indian sub continent is under major threat now. Aedes mosquitoes that carry ZIKA virus is the same that carries Dengue and Chikungunya Virus. These mosquitoes are found in India in abundance and each year millions of Indians fall prey of Dengue and Chikungunya. ZIKA is a major threat for Indian population and people must take extra care for protection against ZIKA.

ZIKA transmission

Mosquitoes

ZIKA virus is most actively spread by female Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes bite during day time only. The spread of this disease is depending on spread of Aedes mosquitoes. First recipient of ZIKA virus were some monkeys. Later it mutated to humans.

Sexual

It was reported in 2016 that sexual activity may transmit the ZIKA disease from a infected person to a healthy person. An infected male in Senegal was reported to carry ZIKA virus in his semen even after 15 days of his recovery from the infection. The wife also developed ZIKA fever and the blood test confirmed the diagnosis. The US health authorities issued strong recommendations for infected people to refrain from sexual indulgence.

During Pregnancy

ZIKA virus makes its strong presence in amniotic fluid of a pregnant mother. Two of such women delivered babies who suffered from Microcephally. Many women reported intra uterine growth restrictions and abnormal brain development of their babies who suffered from ZIKA. Many babies died after birth and many miscarriages were reported. A strong recommendation of avoiding pregnancy is advocated in many central American and South American countries.

Blood Transfusions

A potential risk is suspected based on studies that ZIKA virus can be transfused through blood donations from infected donors to healthy recipients. Since 2014, nucleic acid testing was imposed in French Polynesia to prevent any unintended blood transfusion. These measures of precautions are expected to be implemented in every country affected by ZIKA.

ZIKA fever

ZIKA fever projects common symptoms like mild headaches, Macolopapular rash on body, fever, feeling unwell, conjunctivitis and joint pains. These symptoms appear one after another. Some of them appear in groups like joint pain and fever. These symptoms start fading one by one . These are never serious except Microcephally suffered by babies.

The neurological conditions suffered by adults may be critical some times.

Treatment

There is no treatment of ZIKA except rest a hydration. Paracetamol is given to patient to control fever. Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs can only be given after ruling out Dengue.

Vaccine Development

No vaccine could be developed against ZIKA till date. An Indian doctor claimed to have developed a vaccine against ZIKA this year but the claim is yet to be authenticated by world medical community.