Zika Virus- A mild but serious threat

Facts about Zika Virus

Mosquitoes (Aedes) borne disease is caused by a virus known as Zika virus. Zika virus was first identified at Uganda found in monkeys in 1947 with the use of a system that observed yellow fever and in 1952, it was later discovered at Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania in the human body. It originated in Africa and is now found in subtropical and tropical parts of the world.

Image source

There is a scientific agreement that Zika virus is known to cause the Guillain-Barre syndrome and abnormal smallness of the head, in which from birth the individual has incomplete brain development.

This viral disease is caused by one of the most important and well-known species of mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus that transfer virus that causes yellow fever, dengue fever, West Nile fever, and other less unforgettable diseases.

Aedes aegypti known as the yellow fever mosquito can be identified by the white set of marks on its leg and another set of marks in the form of a lyre on the upper part of its thorax.

Image source

Zika Virus

They belong to the family Flaviviridae and the Flavivirus genus, just like other flaviviruses Zika virus is enveloped (has an outer wrapping), icosahedral and has a non-segmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome.

How does it spread?

Aedes aegypti is an agent for causing much particular fever, the female which bites for blood that she needs to mature her eggs, are attracted to chemicals discharged or produced by mammals like carbon dioxide, octenol, and lactic acid. This is why the females prefer humans.

Scientists at USDA Agricultural Research Service have discovered the particular chemical structure of octenol to really know why it attracts the mosquito to its host, and they discovered that the mosquito is fond of or they have a great liking for “right-handed” octenol molecules

Mode of infection

• Through mosquito bites, humans are affected by Zika virus through the bite of an Infected mosquito (Aedes species- Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus).

• These mosquitoes lay their eggs close to water in buckets, animal dishes, vases, discarded tires, stagnant water, wet shower floors, toilet tanks and bowls, they often bite people and stay at indoors and outdoors near people. They bite during the day and at night.

N.B Aedes mosquitoes that are not infected with Zika virus become infected when they bite and feed on persons infected with Zika virus and these infected mosquitoes spread or transfer Zika virus to other people through bites.

• During pregnancy or time of birth, Zika virus can be passed from infected mother to fetus, which would cause neonatal malformation in which the brain does not develop well and the head of the child is smaller than expected. Other brain problems may also affect newborn babies right from the time of formation to time of being born. It causes problems like miscarriage and stillbirth.

Image source

• Zika virus has also been discovered in breast milk, and these can also cause babies to be infected with the virus.

However, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recorded no health problems in babies that had taken infected breast milk from mothers, as benefits of breastfeeding are more significant and outweigh risk of infection through breast milk. CDC encourages mothers to breastfeed and they continue to study Zika virus and breastmilk.>

• Even if an infected individual does not have or show symptom at the time, it can still be transferred through sex from a person infected with Zika virus to his or her partner.

Studies are yet to find out how long Zika stays in the body fluid of infected people, but infection can be passed from one infected person to other people before symptoms start, during the time of symptom and after symptoms end.

Although there have not been any confirmed cases of blood transfusion in United states till date there have been multiple cases of blood transfusion transmission in Brazil which are currently under investigation.

Due to the current outbreak, there have been 4 reports of Zika virus infection gotten from the laboratory with no clear route of transmission. There are recommendations available for healthcare providers to prevent infection of Zika virus in healthcare settings.

Those who live at or travel to an area with risk of Zika is likely to get infected through infected mosquito bites.

Symptoms of Zika virus disease

People who have Zika virus disease show common symptoms like fever, rash, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, red eyes and muscle pain. These symptoms can last for many days to a week, and infected people don’t get too sick to visit the hospital and rarely die of the disease.

Once someone is infected with Zika virus they are likely to be safe from future infections.>

How do you know a person is infected with Zika?

• A blood test or other body fluid test can be done to confirm a Zika infection
• Diagnosis is based on the person’s recent symptoms, travel history that is if he or she has been at areas with risk of Zika virus and test results.
• Symptoms of Zika virus disease are like other mosquito bites sickness, like Chikungunya and Dengue.

Treatment and prevention of Zika virus infection

This disease does not usually require specific treatment, infected persons should drink enough fluids to help prevent loss of body fluid, get plenty of rest, treat fever and pain with common medicines like paracetamol (acetaminophen), and do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen).

Prevention includes

• Clothing, wearing long-sleeved clothes, long trousers when outside during the day and at night.

• Home, use of mosquito nets over the bed and treat mosquito net with insecticide. Stay in air-conditioned places, and places with doors and windows screen.

• Sexual control, use of condoms or better still not having sex.

• Insect repellant, use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- registered insect repellants that has one of these active ingredients: DEET, picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and always follow product label instructions. Do not use insect repellant on babies of 2 months old, avoid the use of products that have oil of lemon eucalyptus on children that are less than 3 years of age.

Thanks for taking out time to read this, I would really appreciate comments and your views about this.

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_aegypti
• https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/overview.html
• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/zika-virus-uk-america-europe-symptoms-
  cure-pregnant-women-microcephaly-a6851126.html