Why the Zika virus is inflicting alarm

Global health officers have aforementioned that the Zika virus, that has been connected to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil, is chop-chop spreading within the Americas and will infect up to four million individuals.

The race is on to develop a Zika immunogen.

Here square measure some queries and answers concerning the virus and therefore the current irruption.

How do individuals become infected?

The virus is transmitted to individuals through the bite of infected feminine genus Aedes mosquitoes, identical kind of dipteron that spreads dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow jack. The Pan yank Health Organization (PAHO) aforementioned genus Aedes mosquitoes square measure found altogether countries within the Americas except North American nation and continental Chile, and therefore the virus can seemingly reach all countries and territories of the region wherever genus Aedes mosquitoes square measure found.

How does one treat Zika infection?

There is no treatment or immunogen accessible for Zika infection. corporations and scientists square measure athletics to develop a secure and effective immunogen for Zika, however one isn't expected to be prepared for months or years.

How dangerous is it?

The PAHO aforementioned there's no proof that Zika will cause death, however some cases are reportable with a lot of serious complications in patients with pre-existing medical conditions.

The virus has been connected to abnormalcy, a condition in newborns marked by abnormally little heads and brains that haven't developed properly. It conjointly has been related to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder within which the body's system attacks a part of the system. Scientists square measure finding out whether or not there's a causative link between Zika and these 2 disorders.

How is Zika associated with microcephaly?

Health officers have nonetheless to determine a right away causative relationship between Zika infection and birth defects, however it's powerfully suspected. Brazil has reportable quite four,000 cases of suspected abnormalcy that will be connected to Zika. Researchers have known proof of Zika infection in seventeen of those cases, either within the baby or within the mother.

It is unclear whether or not in pregnant girls the virus crosses the placenta and causes abnormalcy. analysis in Brazil indicates the best abnormalcy risk seems to be related to infection throughout the primary trimester of physiological state.

What square measure the symptoms of Zika infection?

People who get Zika virus illness usually have a light fever, skin rash, rubor, muscle and joint pain and fatigue that may last for 2 to seven days. however as several as eighty % of individuals infected ne'er develop symptoms. The symptoms square measure just like those of dengue fever or chikungunya, that square measure transmitted by identical kind of dipteron.

How will Zika be contained?

Efforts to regulate the unfold of the virus specialise in eliminating dipteron breeding sites and taking precautions against dipteron bites like mistreatment insect repellant and dipteron nets. U.S. health officers have suggested pregnant girls to avoid jaunt occupant and Caribbean countries wherever they'll be exposed to Zika.

How widespread is that the irruption within the Americas?

Health officers aforementioned Zika outbreaks are reportable in a minimum of twenty six countries within the Americas.

Brazil has been the state most affected. different nations and territories embody Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, land, Ecuador, Salvador, French geographical area, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto anti-racketeering law, Saint Maarten, Suriname, Republic of Venezuela and therefore the U.S. Virgin Islands, in keeping with the PAHO. (tinyurl.com/hoq6qqo)

What is the history of the Zika virus?

The Zika virus is found in tropical locales with giant dipteron populations. Outbreaks of Zika virus illness are recorded in continent, terra firma, Southern Asia and therefore the Western Pacific. The virus was initial known in {uganda|Uganda|Republic of Republic of Uganda|African country|African nation} in 1947 in macaque monkeys and was initial known in individuals in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania, in keeping with the globe Health Organization.

Can Zika be transmitted through sexual contact?

Two cases of potential person-to-person sexual transmission has been delineate, however the PAHO aforementioned a lot of proof is required to substantiate whether or not sexual contact could be a suggests that of Zika transmission. 

The PAHO conjointly aforementioned Zika is transmitted through blood, however this is often associate degree rare mechanism. there's no proof the virus is transmitted to babies through breast milk.

What different complications square measure related to Zika?

The World Health Organization says as a result of no huge Zika outbreaks were recorded before 2007, very little is understood concerning complications caused by infection. throughout a virulent disease of Zika from 2013-2014 in French Polynesia, national health authorities reportable associate degree uncommon increase in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Health authorities in Brazil have conjointly reportable a rise in Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Long-term health consequences of Zika infection stay unclear. different uncertainties surround the period of the virus and the way Zika interacts with different viruses that square measure transmitted by mosquitoes like dengue fever.