Zika virus symptoms, transmission and prevention explained

Zika virus has infected more than 60 people in Kerala and Maharashtra, A report said that a 50-year-old woman from the Pune district has tested positive for the infection.

Kerala reported its first case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman on July 8 and out of the 63 current cases, three are active and none of them is hospitalized, according to officials.

Officials in Maharashtra have urged people not to panic and said that the woman, who was diagnosed with Zika infection, has completely recovered.

How does the Zika virus spread?

Zika virus, which is similar to dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquitos mainly Aedes aegypti. Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day, peaking during early morning and late afternoon or evening, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

How Zika is transmitted?

Zika can be transmitted through mosquito bites, from a pregnant woman to her foetus, through sexual contact and transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ transplantation.

What are the symptoms of Zika?

Many people infected with the Zika virus will not have symptoms or will only have mild ones. Symptoms generally include mild including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache, and usually last for two to seven days. The incubation period or the time from exposure to symptoms of Zika virus disease is estimated to be 3 to 14 days, according to WHO.

Those infected usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital and they very rarely die of Zika. They may be protected from future infections once infected with Zika.

How is Zika diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Zika may be based on symptoms of those living in or visiting areas with Zika virus transmission or Aedes mosquito vectors. A diagnosis of Zika virus infection can only be confirmed by laboratory tests of blood or other body fluids, such as urine or semen, says WHO.

How to prevent Zika?

There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

What to do if you have Zika?

You should get plenty of rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, take medicine such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. You should avoid taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and talk to your doctor if you are taking medicine for another medical condition.

Is Zika risky for some people?

WHO says that Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects. It is also linked to other problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and other birth defects. There have also been increased reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the nervous system, in areas affected by Zika, according to WHO.

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