You might have heard about the Zika outbreak in Latin America. WHO (World Health Organisation) declared Zika virus as International public health emergency. Do we need to afraid? Let’s have a closer look.
Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bites of infected Aedes genus, Aedes aegypti mosquitos. They are found in tropical regions. They can’t survive in cold temperatures as in Britain. It was identified for the first time in Uganda in Rhesus monkeys in the year 1947. Later in 1952 it was identified in humans.
The disease is so hard to find as it is symptomless. Only 20% of the infected people had some symptoms like a mild fever, skin rash and red eyes. This silent infection affects the highly vulnerable individuals, the pregnant women. This leads to small heads and brain damage to babies.
No vaccines found out yet for this disease. There is no specific treatment. People who are affected is advised to get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids and treat the pain and fever with usual medicines. Better way to prevent from affecting is to avoid mosquito bites. During an outbreak, authorities are allowed to use extreme measures like spraying DDT.
Its spreading in more than 20 countries since the outbreak on May 2015. It spreads through tropical belt. And the tropical belt is expanding due to global warming. Better to take precaution before hand. WHO advises to use mosquito repellent, wear clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body, use physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows, sleeping under mosquito nets. Avoid the breeding of mosquitos by emptying, cleaning or covering the containers that can hold water, such as buckets, flower pots or tyres.
Be alert, be safe.
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