Zika Virus – Learn More about Its Symptoms and Prevention
The Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda. The disease is transmitted by the mosquito that also carries chikungunya virus, dengue fever and yellow fever. The mosquito bites the infected individual and then passes the virus to the other people it bites. This results in an outbreak and thousands of people get infected at the same time. The Zika virus can be spread via blood transfusion or sexual contact. A person that was infected with the virus can easily contaminate others.
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Symptoms
According to the specialists, one in five people infected with the Zika virus will get ill. Most of the infected people do not show any symptoms or maybe just a few. This is why so many people are unaware of the virus they are carrying. Some may experience conjunctivitis, fever, joint pain and rashes. Usually, these symptoms are mild and only last for a few days or for a week. The symptoms occur about 2 or 7 days after the bite. Rarely, the Zika virus can cause major complications. In these cases, it has been linked to the Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition that can cause partial or complete paralysis. Luckily, you just paralyze temporarily. This disorder has been mostly noticed in countries such as Brazil and French Polynesia. In these places, there is a Zika epidemic, but there isn’t a direct link between the two diseases.
Treatment
The Zika virus can be diagnosed after a few blood tests. There are no vaccines or pills available to treat or prevent these infections. If the results identify the presence of the Zika virus, a specialist will prescribe plenty of fluids and rest. This way, you can help your body combat the infection in a natural way. In order to help with pain and fever, paracetamol and acetaminophen can be prescribed.
Prevention
If you want to keep yourself away from a Zika virus infection, avoid traveling to countries that are experiencing an outbreak. The risk is higher if you decide to roam around people who are infected. Keep away as much as possible from countries in Central America, Puerto Rico, South America, the Caribbean and other island locations in the tropical areas. The list includes Brazil, El Salvador, Barbados, French Guiana, Bolivia, Samoa, Colombia, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, U.S. Virgin Islands, El Salvador, Suriname, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Mexico.
This list of affected countries is not final. It may grow as additional laboratory-confirmed cases are reported in affected locations. No cases of contamination with the Zika virus have been reported in the continental United States or Europe. Instead, there have been reported a few cases in returning travelers. Before travelers want to engage in a trip, they are advised to check the most up-to-date list of travel advisories. If travel cannot be avoided under any circumstance, try to prevent yourself from mosquito bites.
