Shaheer Ahmed
The world hasn’t been able to recover from the ongoing pandemic coronavirus that a dormant virus is expected to resurface. Yes, scientists and researchers have given out warnings regarding the lurking threat of the Zika virus.
Zika Virus
Unlike coronavirus, the zika virus does not spread through human contact. It’s like the dengue virus, mosquitoes are the carriers of the zika virus. Adults feel mild symptoms of the virus. But the virus is lethal for the developing fetus, causing birth defects like microcephaly. Children with the zika virus are born with a small head and small brain.
Case History
In 1947, the virus was first discovered in Uganda in monkeys. Later on, the virus was contracted by a human in 1952 in the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. Zika virus outbreaks have been reported in the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. After the 1960s to 1980s outbreak in Asia and Africa, the outbreak was again experienced in 2007 on the Island of Yap. Later on, in 2013 huge number of cases were reported in French Polynesia and other areas in the Pacific.
In Brazil, the Zika virus is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome was identified in March 2015. Then again in October 2015, the Zika virus associated with microcephaly was reported in Brazil. Soon, cases were reported in other parts of the world. So far, a total of 86 countries have been reported to have mosquito-borne Zika infection.
Last year in October, 89 cases of the Zika virus were reported in Kanpur city of India.
Symptoms
The incubation period of the Zika virus is of 3-14 days. The symptoms are not visible in the majority of the carriers of the virus. The symptoms of the zika virus last for 2-7days. The signs are mild and include pain in joints, headache, rashes, muscle pain, fever, and malaise.
This virus is dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause congenital abnormalities in newborns. Moreover, for older children and adults, the zika virus can trigger myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and neuropathy.
The Zika virus is lurking in the shadows and is expected to be more infectious and dangerous than the previous outbreaks. Although there is no vaccine for this virus, but you can protect yourself from contracting the disease. Beware and spread awareness among the masses of the zika virus. Stay wary of the mosquitoes, especially Aedes mosquitoes as they are the carrier of this infection.
