Zika virus is a virus primarily spread by mosquitoes, and it was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda. Since then, it has spread to many other parts of the world, with outbreaks of the virus occurring in multiple countries since then, including a large outbreak in 2015-2017. The symptoms of the Zika virus can vary from mild, leading to flu-like symptoms and rashes on the body, to more severe symptoms such as severe joint pain, eye abnormalities, and even brain damage in some cases. The virus is spread primarily by mosquito bites, but it can also be spread through sexual intercourse and even by pregnant mothers to their unborn babies.
Table of Contents
What is Zika Virus
Zika virus is a serious health concern that has been reported in many countries. It is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted mainly by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms can last up to one week and can range from mild to severe. It can be fatal in worst-case scenarios, and the virus is known to cause birth defects in pregnant women.
Zika virus is a virus spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and is related to other viruses in the same family such as dengue, West Nile and Chikungunya. It has been around since the 1950s, however, it was rarely reported until 2015. The first case of this infection was discovered in Brazil in 2015, and it quickly spread throughout South America. After the virus had been reported in Brazil, other countries throughout the Americas reported cases of Zika-related illness and complications.
Symptoms
Zika Virus is an emerging mosquito-borne disease that is spread by the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. It has recently been declared a public health emergency of international concern due to its extreme level of severity and its potential for explosive spread. Cases have been reported in multiple countries, primarily in the Americas and the Caribbean, though it’s believed this number may be significantly underreported.
The majority of those infected with the Zika virus do not experience symptoms. Among those who do, symptoms usually appear 3-14 days after infection, are minor (rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache), and persist 2-7 days. Because these symptoms are shared by other arboviral and non-arboviral disorders, a laboratory diagnosis of this infection is required.
Zika causes mild symptoms that include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. In pregnant women, Zika can cause severe birth defects, such as microcephaly or congenital eye disorders, in the baby.
Causes for Zika Virus
Zika is a virus that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is most commonly spread through the tropics, but it can also be spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and mother-to-child transmission. Zika can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (a common eye infection). There is currently no cure or prevention for Zika.
There are many possible causes of this. One cause could be a mutation in the virus itself. This could allow the virus to more easily infect humans. Another possibility is a change in the environment, such as increased mosquito populations or more frequent travel to areas where Zika is present. Additionally, it is possible that the human immune system has become less effective at fighting off the virus.
Treatment
There is currently no therapy for Zika virus infection or illness.
People experiencing symptoms such as rash, fever, or joint pain should rest, drink lots of fluids, and seek treatment with antipyretics and/or analgesics. Because of the danger of bleeding, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines should be avoided until dengue virus infections are ruled out. Patients should seek medical attention and counselling if their symptoms worsen.
Pregnant women who live in Zika-infected areas or who experience Zika-related symptoms should seek medical attention for laboratory testing, information, counseling, and other clinical care.
Bottom lines
Zika virus infection has been linked to an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome in outbreaks during the previous decade. When the Zika virus first appeared in the Americas, with a big outbreak in Brazil in 2015, a connection between this infection and microcephaly (smaller than normal head size) was initially revealed; similar findings were found in French Polynesia after a retrospective assessment. From February to November 2016, WHO proclaimed microcephaly, other neurological abnormalities, and the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and the causal link between this and congenital deformities was quickly proved. Outbreaks of this illness have been reported in most of the Americas and other areas where Aedes aegypti mosquitos are present.
Infections were discovered in travelers from active transmission regions, and sexual transmission of the Zika virus was verified as an alternative route of infection.
Cases of Zika virus sickness have decreased internationally since 2017, yet transmission remains low in numerous nations in the Americas and other endemic locations. Furthermore, the first instances of Zika virus sickness spread by mosquitos were recorded in Europe in 2019, while this epidemic activity was observed in India in 2021. To present, 89 nations and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-borne Zika virus infection; nevertheless, global surveillance remains insufficient.