Zika virusA new threat to people is Zika virus, a member of the Flaviviridae virus family that causes Zika fever or Zika virus disease. In a recent case a Zika virus has been confirmed in a 5-year-old girl in Karnataka’s Raichur district. This is the first confirmed case in the South Indian state. Earlier, similar diseases were confirmed in Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh a few months ago.
What is Zika virus?
Zika virus is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family. These day-active Aedes mosquitoes such as A aegypti and A. albopictus, Zika Forest in Uganda, where the virus was first discovered in 1947, gave the disease its name. Dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus all belong to the same genus as Zika virus.
It has been documented since the 1950s to occur within a restricted equatorial belt extending from Africa to Asia. 2015–2016 Zika virus pandemic The eastward spread of the virus from the Pacific Ocean to the Americas occurred between 2007 and 2016. African lineage and Asian lineage are two Zika lineages. Some babies are born with microcephaly and other brain defects due to infection during pregnancy. Zika virus has been shown to infect human Schwann cells, and infection has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults.
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Zika virus causes disease
The female Aedes aegypti mosquito mainly spreads Zika during the day. However it is still not clear what is the actual range of the vector. Anopheles costani, Mansonia uniformis and Culex perfuscus aedes These are just some of the species that carry the Zika virus, although they are not necessarily carriers of the disease.
symptoms of zika virus disease
Zika fever is a disease caused by Zika virus. About 80% of cases are estimated to be asymptomatic, However, symptoms associated with symptomatic cases include:
- low fever
- red eyes
- joint pain
- Headache
- Maculopapular rash.
These symptoms of Zika virus disease usually last less than seven days.
Zika virus diagnosis
Virus infection is possible based on symptoms in people who live in or travel to areas where they live Zika virus is spread by Aedes mosquito or both, appearance only Zika virus RNA in laboratory tests Blood or other body fluids can confirm the diagnosis of Zika virus infection, and must be distinguished from cross-reactive related flaviviruses, such as dengue virus, with which the patient may have been vaccinated or had a prior exposure. .
treatment of zika virus disease
no specific treatment of zika virus infection, Get plenty of rest to help relieve symptoms and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Acetaminophen, available over-the-counter (OTC) under Tylenol and other brand names, can reduce fever and joint pain.
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zika virus vaccine
Development Inactivated vaccines and other non-live vaccines, which are safe for use by pregnant women, have been recommended by the World Health Organization as a top priority. a Vaccines against Zika were developed by 18 companies and institutions as of March 2016.But he estimates it won’t be widely available for another 10 years.
The FDA first approved human clinical trials for the Zika vaccine in June 2016. DNA vaccine was approved in 2016 March 2017 for Phase-2 clinical trial, This vaccine is made from a plasmid, a tiny circular piece of DNA that expresses a gene. for Zika virus envelope protein. The vaccine cannot infect humans because it does not contain the complete viral sequence.
prevention of zika virus disease
Precautionary measures are important because there is no vaccine and no specific treatment for Zika virus disease. Check the following details:
- Proper use of condoms and reducing mosquito bites are two methods of prevention where the disease is present.
- Use of insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
- Wear full sleeve clothes and keep the body covered.
- Remove any standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
- Health officials advise pregnant women to postpone becoming pregnant or avoid traveling to affected areas.
- Hospitalization is rarely required.
Meanwhile, don’t go by any kind of rumors and misinformation unless it comes from an official and authentic source.
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