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What is Zika Virus disease?
It is an Aedes mosquitoe borne viral disease like Dengue, yellow fever and Chikungunya. Zika virus belongs to the genre Flabi virus. It is caused by bite form infected mosquitoes.
It is common in urban areas which lag behind in water management. Breeding sites of this mosquitoes are mostly man made receptacles found in and around residential areas, around health institutions, construction sites factories etc. The population of Aedes Egypti mosquitos fluctuates with rainfall and humidity,during rainy season the risk of virus transmission is more.
Zika Virus cases in India
The number of Zika virus infections in Pune, Maharashtra, has recently increased. On Wednesday, July 3, the central government released an advisory. Consequently, the number of cases has risen to seven after a 55-year-old lady in Pune was found to have received a Zika virus injection.
Zika Virus Causes
Zika Virus is a mosquito- borne virus primarily transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes which bite mostly during the day. The same mosquito is known to transmit infections like Dengue and Chikungunya.
History of Zika Virus
The first case this disease was identified in Uganda in 1947 in a Rhesus macaque monkey. The first human cases have come in 1952 from Tanzania and Uganda. After that, sporadic human infections were recorded across Africa, Asia and America.
In India, first case of this disease has been reported form Gujarat in 2016. After that, many states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, cases of Zika virus disease were reported. Report says It is a non fatal disease.
Transmission of This Virus
• Zika virus primarily transmitted by infected mosquitoes of Andes genus mainly Aedes aegypti, in tropical and subtropical regions.
• It is also transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy,
• sexual contacts
• Transfusion of blood or blood products
• And possibly through organ transplantation.
Zika Virus in Pregnancy
According to WHO:
Microcephaly and other congenital deformities in the newborn, such as limb contractures, excessive muscle tone, abnormalities in the eyes, and hearing loss, are caused by infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy. Congenital Zika syndrome is the collective term for these clinical characteristics.
Zika Virus Symptoms
In some people, no symptoms can be seen. Among those who do, symptoms for Zika Virus are similar to other abrovirus infections such as
• Fever,
• Rashes
• Conjunctivitis,
• Muscle and joint pain,
• Headache,
These symptoms last for 2 to 7 days.
Major associated complications with Zika virus disease are
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Neurological consequences
• Myelitis
• During pregnancy, chances of mircoephaly and other congenital malformations in infants including limb contractual, high muscle tones, eye abnormalities and hearing loss, collectively referred as Congenital Zika syndrome.
Treatments for Zika Virus
There is no specific Zika Virus treatment or vaccine available for Zika virus infection disease. People infected are advised to be hydrated, drink enough fluids, take adequate rest, and for pain and fever paracetamol can be taken. If symptoms get worse,Medical care and advice should be sought.
As prevention is better than cure, precautions that we can take,
• Wear protective cloths like full sleeved or cloth covering most of the body parts.
• Using mosquitoes repellents like neem leaves or by using mosquito net while sleeping.
• Using protective nets on doors and windows
• Covering all water containers in house to reduce potential breeding sites
• Frequently emptying waters from coolers, tanks ,etc
• Regularize checking clogged water drainage,roofs etc.
Mobilizing households for timely fogging or spraying in and around specially during rainy seasons. These prevention measures need involvement of individuals, societies, institutions like school and colleges, health sector departments professionals, local and national government to generate awareness and control the spread of infection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recent spike in Zika virus cases in Pune and surrounding areas underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and preventive measures. With the central government’s advisory in place, it is crucial for residents to remain vigilant and adopt necessary precautions to curb the spread of the virus. The detection of new cases highlights the importance of early detection and response to prevent further escalation.
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