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More than 60 people have been infected with Zika virus in Kerala, while Maharashtra confirmed on Saturday that a 50-year-old woman from Pune district had tested positive for the disease. According to officials, Kerala reported its first case of Zika virus infection in a pregnant woman on July 8, and three of the current 63 cases are active, none of whom have been hospitalized.
Officials in Maharashtra state asked residents not to be afraid, noting that the woman who was diagnosed with the Zika virus has fully recovered.
How does Zika virus spread?
Zika virus, which is similar to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus, is spread mostly by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti. The Aedes mosquito usually bites during the day, and reaches its peak intensity during the early morning and late afternoon or evening, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”. Global Health Organization (from).
How is Zika transmitted?
Zika virus can be transmitted by mosquito bites, from a pregnant woman to her fetus, through sexual contact, blood and blood product transfusion, and organ transplantation.
What are the symptoms of Zika?
Many people infected with Zika virus will have no symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. Symptoms are generally mild including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache, and usually last for two to seven days. The incubation period, or time from exposure to symptoms of Zika virus disease, is estimated to range from 3 to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization.
Infected people rarely become sick enough to go to the hospital, and they rarely die from Zika. Once they are infected with Zika virus, they may be protected from future infections.
How is Zika diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Zika virus may be based on the symptoms experienced by those who live in or visit areas where Zika virus or its Aedes mosquito vector is widespread. The World Health Organization says a diagnosis of Zika virus infection can only be confirmed through laboratory tests of blood or other body fluids, such as urine or semen.
How to prevent Zika?
There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.
What to do if you have Zika?
You should get plenty of rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, and take medications such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. You should avoid taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and talk to your doctor if you are taking medication for another medical condition.
Is Zika dangerous for some people?
The World Health Organization says infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects. It is also associated with other problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth and other birth defects. There have also been increasing reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the nervous system, in areas affected by the Zika virus, according to the World Health Organization.