Zika Virus

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that was first identified in 1947 in Uganda. The virus was spotted in monkeys through a yellow fever monitoring network. Later, the condition was noticed in humans in 1952 in the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. Individuals who have contracted the virus can have symptoms which include conjunctivitis, joint pain, mild fever, muscle and skin rash, headache, and malaise. The symptoms usually last between two to seven days. The world health organization concluded that the infection of the virus during expectation causes brain abnormalities such as microcephaly; this is based on a review of the literature. The literature further inferred that Zika virus triggers a syndrome called Guillain-Barré.

There have been recordings of the Zika virus outbreak in the Pacific, Asia, United States of America, and Africa. Human Infections have been occurring across Asia and Africa, usually accompanied by severe illness between the 1960s and 1980s. The Yap Island is where the first significant outbreak of the Zika infection was reported in the year 2007. Brazil then reported an association between Guillain-Barré syndrome and Zika virus infection in July 2015. Brazil also said a link between microcephaly and Zika virus infection in October 2015. The Zika epidemic began in Brazil in May 2015 and may be connected to a large number of microcephaly in children born to mothers who were infected. An estimated 2 million Brazilians have contracted the disease since then. Most of these cases have been concentrated in northeastern Brazil, which is the country’s least developed region.

A key measure to prevent the infection of the Zika virus is to stay protected against mosquito bites. The practice can be performed by wearing attire that conceals as much of the body as possible by incorporating physical barriers such as sleeping under mosquito nets, closing doors or window screens and using insect repellent containing picaridin, IR3535 or DEET. Help and particular attention should be given to the individuals who are not able to adequately protect themselves, such as elderly, the sick, and young children. Those living in affected areas and travelers should take the precautions that are described above to protect themselves. To curb the spread of this virus, it is also essential to clean, empty or covers potential breeding sites of mosquitoes around and in houses such as used tires, gutters, pots, drums, and buckets. Also, locals of an area should support government efforts regarding mosquito reduction in their locality. Spraying of insecticides should also be carried out as advised by health authorities.

Furthermore, unprotected sexual intercourse aid into the spread of Zika virus. This is of great concern because of a link between fetal outcomes and adverse pregnancy and Zika virus infection. All people who are at a risk of contracting the Zika virus infection together with their sexual partners should receive information concerning how they can protect themselves from the virus. World health organization recommends that women and men who are sexually active be counseled correctly. Also, they should be offered a broad range of contraceptive methods to make an informed choice about when and whether to become pregnant to prevent adverse fetal and pregnancy outcomes. Pregnant women should steer clear from sexual activity for at least the whole pregnancy duration or practice safe sex.