An outbreak of any epidemic calls for learning about it; to avoid
its affect on us. This time it is Zika which is fast spreading. Here is an
overview of the information gathered by me.
Zika virus is a tropical disease associated with mild symptoms. It
is spread from an infected person to other persons by mosquito bites, it is technically
called “Arbovirus”. It was once a rare disease and got its name from the Zika
forest in Uganda where it was first identified by scientists in 1940s. It was a
rare disease and only a handful of Zika cases had ever been documented before
2013. But scientists and doctors began sounding the alarm after multiple
outbreaks were discovered in Pacific islands and south-east Asia. Since then,
Zika has spread to Brazil which is the worst affected, where it is estimated
that as many as 1.5 million people are infected. Zika is now present in 23
countries and the victims are reaching close to 4 million. In USA, 36 cases
have been reported and fortunately none in India so far. Brazil the hardest-hit
country has reported in addition around 3,700 cases of the devastating birth
defect Microcephaly which is strongly suspected to be related to Zika.
With so much international traveling these days, there is every
chance of Zika virus spreading to India and we have to take precautions.
As there is no medicine or vaccine to prevent Zika virus disease,
the only way out is to avoid mosquito bites. Though mosquitoes that spread Zika
virus bite mostly during the daytime, we have to be careful round the clock. We
have to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house through shut windows and
doors or mosquito netting to the windows. In spite of all these precautions in
our house, a few mosquitoes are seen on and off. So mosquito repellents in
every form have to be resorted to and sometimes we may have to chase and
incinerate them with an electrically charged racquet! And it is always better
to keep ourselves well covered.
About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill. The most
common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Other
common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The illness is usually mild
with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization
is uncommon and deaths are rare. However the gravest risk is to ladies in the
family way, as Zika infection is linked to thousands of babies being born with
underdeveloped brains. So great is the fear that women in Zika affected
countries are being advised to delay getting pregnant.
As no particular medication is available for Zika infections, some regular
medicines under medical supervision are administered for controlling temperature
and pain. Patients are advised plenty of rest and to have copious fluids with
their diet.
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