HIGHLIGHTS
• 4 out of 5 people infected with Zika virus show no symptoms
• Preventing mosquito bites is the bets way to prevent Zika
• Zika virus is transmitted to people through bite of infected mosquito
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne viral infection which primarily occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Many people infected by Zika virus exhibit no signs or symptoms. Muscle pain, mild fever, rashes, headache, red eyes and a general feeling of discomfort are by and large zika virus symptoms. Zika virus is transmitted to people through bite of infected Aedes species mosquito. Zika virus outbreaks have been reported in Africa, Asia, America and Pacific.
Zika virus: Here's how you can prevent foetal damage
Last Zika virus was reported in 2015. At that time, a link between the virus and brain damage in developing foetus was identified. This means that while Zika virus mildly affected the infected patient, the transmission of the virus from an infected mother can severely affect the growing foetus. Zika virus can make the foetus prone to microcephaly, a condition in which the foetus grows with abnormally small head. This ultimately leads to brain damage.
Currently, there is no treatment for Zika. Recently however, researchers from Johns Hopkins University have discovered a drug called Kineret that may protect infected foetus from brain damage. Kineret is an anti-inflammatory drug which is used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Read here to know more.
Kineret is known to be well-characterised drug which is even safe to be used during pregnancy. More research is needed to testify this claim and its effectiveness.
Zika virus: Risk factors and symptoms you must know
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurological disorder which may be caused because of zika virus infection. Eye damage, joint problems, limited movement, reduced brain tissue and brain damage are other risk factors associated with Zika.
4 out of 5 people infected with Zika virus show no symptoms, mentions Mayo Clinic. Symptoms are likely to appear two to seven days after a person is bitten by infected mosquito. Joint, muscle pain, mild fever and rashes are common zika virus symptoms. The infection may also cause headache and red eyes.