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The corona pandemic is not over yet and India is witnessing an attack of a new virus, which is known as the Zika virus. A total of 13 people in Kerala have confirmed infection with this virus, including a pregnant woman. When these people showed symptoms of Zika, their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for examination, where the infection was confirmed.

According to the World Health Organization, the Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes and these mosquitoes are active during the day. Although this virus has not spread in India for the first time, in the year 2017, three cases of its infection were detected in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, including a pregnant woman.

Zika virus spreads mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which bites during the day. Aedes mosquitoes are the same that transmit dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations.

It is also associated with other pregnancy complications, including premature birth and miscarriage. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals infected with the Zika virus can also transmit the disease to their sex partners.

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Symptoms of Zika Virus

• According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of Zika disease usually appear between 3-14 days.
• Although most people infected with it do not even develop symptoms, those who do may show symptoms such as fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, headache, and restlessness.
• These symptoms usually last for 2-7 days.

Complications of Zika Virus Disease

• Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus and newborn.
• Its infection in pregnancy also results in serious pregnancy complications, such as fetal loss, premature birth, or stillbirth.

Treatment of Zika Virus Disease

• According to the World Health Organization, there is currently no treatment available for Zika infection or related diseases.
• Although the symptoms of its infection are usually mild.
• Therefore people with symptoms such as fever, skin rash, or joint pain should take plenty of rest, drink fluids and treat pain and fever with common medications.
• If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice.

Prevention of Zika Virus

• According to the World Health Organization, mosquito prevention is the best way to prevent Zika infection.
  To avoid mosquitoes, keep the whole body covered and wear light-colored clothes.
• To prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, remove the water filled in pots, buckets, coolers, etc. around your house.
• Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.

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