What Is the Zika Virus?
The Zika virus, first identified in Uganda in 1947, is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same type of mosquito that carries dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya virus. A mosquito bites an infected person and then passes those viruses to other people it bites. Outbreaks did not occur outside of Africa until 2007 when it spread to the South Pacific.- Read Also:
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Zika Virus has “never been thought of as a severe infectious disease until now,” says Amesh Adalja, MD, a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The CDC has confirmed Zika can spread through sex, usually after a person traveled to an area where Zika had broken out, got the virus, and gave the virus to a sex partner who did not travel. Infected women and men can both pass the virus to sex partners -- even if they haven’t shown symptoms of infection, according to the CDC. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass the virus on to their fetus.
Some studies have also shown the virus can be found in blood, semen, urine, and saliva of infected people as well as in fluids in the eye.
Two years ago in Utah, a person got the virus without traveling or having sexual contact. The person was a relative and caregiver of an elderly Zika patient who died in late June -- the first Zika-linked death in the U.S. The deceased man had traveled to an area where Zika is spreading, and lab tests showed high amounts of the virus in his blood -- more than 100,000 times higher than that seen in other samples of infected people, the CDC said. He also had an underlying medical condition that has not been disclosed.
Health officials believe the caregiver got Zika by coming into contact with the older man’s tears and sweat.
Zika virus • Virus • Mosquito • Measles Symptoms treatment
Zika virus Symptoms
As many as 4 out of 5 people infected with the Zika virus have no signs or symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they usually begin two to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Signs and symptoms of the Zika virus most commonly include:- Mild fever
- Rash
- Joint or muscle pain
- fever
- rash
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- joint pain
- fatigue
- swelling of cheeks
- sweating
- chills
- vomiting
- bloodshot eyes
- Headache
- Red eyes (conjunctivitis)
Most people recover fully, with symptoms resolving in about a week.
What is the treatment for zika virus?
Currently, there is no specific medicine for Zika infection, nor any vaccination, because scientists had for long assumed the virus to be benign. The symptoms can, however, be treated, so your doctor may suggest fever reducers and medicines for vomiting and rash.There are vaccinations currently being developed.
Tags: dehydration, Zika virus, birth defects, brain damage, immune system, mosquitoes, dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya
