Zika virus

• Mumbai has reported the first case of Zika Virus.

ABOUT ZIKA VIRUS

• Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947.
• It gained global attention in 2015 outbreak in the Americas, particularly in Brazil.
• This outbreak was associated with an increase in babies born with microcephaly.
  • It is a serious birth defect where babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.
• Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
• Transmission-
  • primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
  • Zika can also spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
• Symptoms
  • Many people remain asymptomatic.
  • When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and red eyes (conjunctivitis).
  • Symptoms appear two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last for several days to a week.
• Treatment-
  • No vaccine is yet available for its prevention.
  • There is no specific antiviral treatment for Zika virus infection.
  • Supportive care, such as rest, hydration, and pain relief, is typically recommended for those with symptoms.
  • Pregnant women who may have been exposed to Zika are closely monitored to detect any birth defects in the baby.