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Zika Virus Unmasked: Understanding a Global Enigma
Imagine you are planning a dream vacation to a tropical paradise, excited to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. As you research your destination, your excitement turns into concern as you come across a travel advisory warning about the Zika virus. You begin to wonder what exactly is Zika, and how could it impact your trip and health? This situation is all too real for many travellers and residents in certain parts of the world, where Zika remains a significant health concern.
Read our blog to gain in-depth knowledge on zika virus, its origin, prevalence, how it is transmitted, the symptoms, its diagnoses, effects, impact on pregnant women and their foetus, and the importance of medical consultation.
What is Zika Virus
Zika virus or Zika fever is a disease one gets from certain types of mosquitoes namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Zika is caused by a virus, an organism that uses the cells of the body to make more copies of itself. Many people don’t know they have it or have very mild symptoms. If a person who’s pregnant gets infected, the virus can prevent the foetus’s brain from developing properly. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos are found in many parts of the world. There have been outbreaks in the Americas, the Caribbean and parts of Africa and Asia.
Origin and historical outbreaks of zika virus
Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda. Subsequently, the virus was found in humans in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania. Zika virus has been circulating in Africa and Asia since the 1950s. It was relatively unnoticed as the symptoms of the virus were mild in most cases. Nonetheless, a series of significant outbreaks in recent years brought Zika virus into the global spotlight. In 2007, the first large outbreak of Zika disease occurred on the Pacific Island of Yap. Between 2013-2014, there was a major outbreak in French Polynesia that raised the concerns about the virus due to an increased number of cases. Later in 2015-2016 there was an outbreak in Brazil which was particularly notable due to the increase in cases of microcephaly.
How does Zika virus spread?
There are various modes of transmission of Zika virus including:
- Mosquitoes: The most common way people can get Zika is through the bite of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are found in many parts of the world. They spread Zika when they bite someone who’s infected and then bite someone else.
- Pregnant person to foetus: If a pregnant woman has a Zika infection, it can pass through the placenta to the foetus. Zika can cause the child to be born with congenital (present at birth) conditions like microcephaly.
- Sexual contact: Zika virus can stay in body fluids, like semen, for weeks to months after an infection, even if a person never had symptoms or the symptoms have gone away. It can spread to other people through oral, anal or vaginal sex.
- Blood transfusion: There have been reported cases of Zika being transmitted through blood transfusions, although this is not common.
What are the symptoms of Zika?
Only about 1 in 5 people with Zika have symptoms. The symptoms include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Redness in the whites of your eyes (pink eye/conjunctivitis)
- Rash that is a mix of raised and flat red areas of skin (maculopapular), which can be itchy.
How is Zika diagnosed?
A healthcare provider diagnoses Zika by looking for signs of the virus in the blood or pee (urine). The provider will usually only test for Zika if you have been to a place with risk for Zika and you have symptoms.
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Zika Virus
For most people, Zika is a short-lived illness with no lasting effects. However, in some cases, Zika has been linked to more severe health issues, including:
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS): A rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis. There is evidence to suggest that Zika can trigger GBS in some individuals.
- Congenital Zika Syndrome: This refers to a range of birth defects that occur in babies born to mothers infected with Zika during pregnancy. These can include microcephaly, brain damage, eye defects, hearing loss, and growth impairment.
Impact on Pregnant Women and Their Foetus
Some severe consequences of Zika virus can occur in pregnant women and their foetuses. Zika infection during pregnancy might lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe birth defects which is known as Congenital Zika Syndrome. This syndrome can result in lifelong disabilities, significantly impacting the child’s quality of life and placing a considerable burden on families and healthcare systems.
Importance of Medical Consultation
Given the potential complications associated with Zika, especially for pregnant women, it is crucial to seek medical consultation if you suspect you have been exposed to the virus. Easily book an appointment through Cellmaflex and get early diagnosis and monitoring to help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of severe outcomes.
How can I prevent Zika?
- Ways to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a Zika infection include:
Protect yourself from mosquitoes: If you are traveling to an area with a risk of Zika or a current Zika outbreak, cover exposed skin with clothing and wear EPA-registered insect repellent. Sleep indoors in a room with screens in the windows or under a mosquito bed net. Avoid getting mosquito bites for at least three weeks after you return from travel.
- Use condoms or abstain from sex: If you have travelled to an area with a risk of Zika or a current outbreak, use a condom or avoid (abstain from) oral, anal and vaginal sex for three months after returning, even if you do not have symptoms.
- Avoid traveling to areas with Zika if you’re pregnant: If you travel to an area with a risk of Zika, let your pregnancy care provider know and keep an eye out for symptoms of Zika. If there is an outbreak where you live while you are pregnant, take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and use condoms during sex or do not have sex. Talk to your provider about other ways to prevent infection.
- Take precautions if you or your partner wants to become pregnant: If you or your partner travels to an area with a risk of Zika or has been diagnosed with Zika, wait to try to get pregnant. This will reduce your risk of passing an infection to the foetus. If you live in an area with a Zika outbreak while you are trying to get pregnant, talk to you provider about how to prevent infection.
How Cellmaflex helps patients:
Cellmaflex is an all-in-one healthcare hub. Patients can sign up on Cellmaflex for free. Through Cellmaflex, they can search the directory to find the right specialist in a few clicks. Patients can easily view the doctors’ calendars and check their availability. With Cellmaflex, patients can book appointments with desired doctors with ease and receive appointment reminders.
Patients can receive their test results directly, access the test results and health records anytime, anywhere. Patients can order prescriptions by finding pharmacies on Cellmaflex and have secure online payments.
Awareness and education about the virus, its symptoms, and its risks especially for pregnant women is important to preventing its spread and minimizing its impact. The more we understand about Zika and its effects, the better equipped we are to protect ourselves and future generations from its potentially devastating consequences.
FAQs
Does Zika have a cure?
Currently, there is no cure for zika or the complications that it causes. People with mild symptoms, mostly recover on their own.
Does Zika virus go away?
Zika virus infections usually go away on their own. But if a person is pregnant and has Zika, it can cause congenital (present at birth) conditions in their baby, such as vision loss or improper brain development. These conditions are permanent.
