Infectious Disease specialist Dr Jatin Ahuja gives a lowdown on the virus and a to-do list.
A doctor in Pune and his teenage daughter tested positive for the Zika virus, marking the first two cases in the city this year. The virus has resurfaced in the western region of India. There were examples found in Mumbai the previous year. Because mosquitoes are carriers, the danger of infection increases when they multiply quickly during rainy seasons.
The dengue and yellow fever viruses are members of the same family as the zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes. The primary method of transmission is by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, specifically Aedes aegypti. Dr. Jatin Ahuja, Senior Consultant, Infectious Disease, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, states that not all mosquitoes carry the Zika virus and that not every individual bitten by an infected mosquito would contract the disease.
What is Zika?
The Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, was discovered in 1947 in Uganda’s Zika Forest. It remained unknown until 2015, when a major epidemic in the Americas—most notably in Brazil—brought it to the attention of the world.
A public health alert was issued due to the correlation between the outbreak and a rise in infants born with microcephaly, a severe congenital condition characterized by atypically small heads and underdeveloped brains. This demonstrated that the virus could harm a pregnant woman’s unborn child.
Zika virus-carrying mosquitoes can reside both indoors and outdoors. Nothing stops them from biting at night, even though they typically do so during the day.
What are signs and symptoms?
Approximately 80% of those infected with the Zika virus do not show any symptoms. Some experience moderate symptoms such as conjunctivitis, fever, rash, headaches, and soreness in the joints and muscles. These can appear several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito and manifest within a week.
How is it transmitted?
Humans contract the Zika virus when bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito, specifically Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Zika can also be transmitted by blood transfusions, sexual contact, and mother-to-child transmission while a woman is pregnant or giving birth. The zika virus can infect an unborn child through the placenta.
Can the virus cause complications?
Pregnancy-related infections can result in birth malformations such as microcephaly and other neurological issues in the unborn child, some of which may become apparent as the kid gets older. Thus, the expectant woman needs to undergo ultrasound scans during the first trimester and be alert.
What is the test for Zika?
Proceed with the urine or blood RT-PCR test. When completed within a week of becoming ill, this test performs at its best. It might not be the most useful test procedure after that.
What are preventive measures?
Preventing mosquito bites is the most effective method of preventing the Zika virus. This entails remaining in air-conditioned or screened-in spaces, eliminating standing water, applying insect repellents, and dressing in long sleeves. It is frequently recommended that women who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant delay visiting regions where the Zika virus is currently spreading. The virus cannot be spread during intercourse if safe sex practices (using condoms) are followed. The danger of transmission through blood transfusions is decreased by blood testing and screening.
How to treat Zika virus?
Treatment is necessary for the symptoms and it is self-limiting. There’s no particular antiviral medication. For fever and pain alleviation, take paracetamol, rest, and drink plenty of water. Women who may have been exposed to Zika during their pregnancy need to be closely watched for birth abnormalities.
