*”IT IS MORE THAN JUST A HEADACHE”*
🧬 The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in monkeys in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. It was later identified in humans in the 1950s in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The virus is primarily spread by the bite of the Aedes mosquito 🦟 and can also be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to fetus during pregnancy.
🔹 The most common symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. In some cases, the virus can cause more severe complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and birth defects in newborns, such as microcephaly.
🔹 The Zika virus gained widespread attention in 2015-2016 when there was a large outbreak in the Americas, particularly in Brazil. This outbreak raised concerns about the potential link between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and microcephaly in newborns. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
🔹 Since then, efforts have been made to control the spread of the virus, including mosquito control measures, travel advisories, and public health campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of Zika virus infection. Furthermore, In this last quota of the year, Zika virus 🦠 is suspected of being at endemic stage in Asian subcontinental regions.
🔹 There is currently no specific treatment for Zika virus infection, and the development of a vaccine is ongoing. Prevention measures, such as:
⭐️ Using insect repellent,
⭐️ Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants,
⭐️ Using air conditioning and window screens to keep mosquitoes out, are recommended to reduce the risk of infection.
🔹 While the Zika virus remains a concern, efforts to control its spread and minimize its impact on public health are ongoing. Research into understanding the virus and developing effective countermeasures continues to be a priority for the global health community.
#ZikaVirus #Endemic #GuillainBarréSyndrome #Microcephaly.
