Zika Virus

About Zika Virus:

• It is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947.
• Transmission
  • It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
  • It can also spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
• Symptoms
  • Many people infected with this virus do not experience any symptoms (asymptomatic).
  • When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and red eyes (conjunctivitis).
  • Symptoms typically appear two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last for several days to a week.
• What are the complications?
  • This virus infection is usually mild, it can have serious consequences for pregnant women and their babies.
  • Infection during pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as microcephaly, as well as other neurological disorders in the baby. 
  • It has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment available for Zika virus infection or disease.

Q1) What is microcephaly?

It is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Source: Mumbai detects Zika virus: What are signs, symptoms and prevention measures?

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