Zika virus outbreak: a new global threat
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ABSTRACT
Zika virus is similar to Dengue, Yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile viruses (WNS). Zika virus is belongs to a virus family Flaviviridae and the Genus, Flavivirus; which is mainly transmitted by day time-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as Aedes Aegyptic and Aedes Albopictus. Zika virus disease was first reported from the pacific in 2007, followed by in France Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Zika virus spread through bite of an infected Aedesmosquito, a same mosquito that transmits Dengue and Chikungunya. The virus has also been found in semen, thus sexual transmission is also documented. During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in blood and therefore transmitted through mosquito bites. Symptoms of disease mostly begins with mild fever, rash and joint pain or red eyes, followed by muscular pain and headache, within 3 to 12 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and persist for a week. Zika virus can also spread from pregnant mother to her unborn baby. In 2014, Brazil reported 147 cases of babies born with shrunken skulls, known as Microcephaly, a congenital deformation of the skull that compresses the infant’s brain. Until now, neither vaccine nor better preventive drug is available, therefore the best way to prevent Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites whenever traveling to an area where Zika virus is present.Keywords: Aedesmosquitoes, Flavivirus, Microcephaly, Vaccine
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Sr No: 1
Page No:80-84
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Language: English
Licence: IJW
Authors: Rajendiran1*, Praveen Katiyar2
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1University Institute of Pharmacy, CSJM University, Kanpur, U.P., India
2University Institute of Health Sciences, CSJM University, Kanpur, U.P., India
Mobile: 09935605287
Email: email- arajendiran12@gmail.com
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