It was later identified in humans in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania in 1952. From the 1960s to the 1980s, rare sporadic cases of human infection occurred in Africa and Asia, usually with mild disease. Zika virus
The first record of Zika virus disease was reported from Yap Island (Federated States of Micronesia) in 2007. A large outbreak of Zika virus infection followed in 2013 in French Polynesia and other countries and regions in the Pacific. In March 2015, Brazil reported a large outbreak of rash, soon identified as Zika virus infection, and in July 2015, found to be linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Outbreaks and transmission soon appeared throughout the Americas, Africa, and other regions of the world. To date, a total of 89 countries and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-borne Zika infection.
Signs and symptoms Of Zika virus
The time period (time for symptoms to appear) of Zika virus sickness is calculable to be 3-14 days. the bulk of individuals infect with the Zika virus doesn’t show symptoms. Symptoms area unit sometimes gentle, together with fever, rash, redness, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache, and typically last 2-7 days.
Complications of Zika virus disease
Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus and newborn.
Research is ongoing to investigate the effects of Zika virus infection on pregnancy outcomes, prevention, and control strategies, and the effects of infection on other neurological disorders in children and adults.
Transmission Of Zika virus
Zika virus is transmitted primarily in tropical and subtropical regions by the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes genus, particularly Aedes aegypti. Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day, peaking in the early morning and late afternoon/evening. It is the same mosquito that spreads dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
Diagnosis Of Zika virus
Zika virus infection may be suspect based on symptoms in people who live in or visit areas with Zika virus transmission and/or the Aedes mosquito vector. The diagnosis of Zika virus infection can only confirm by laboratory tests of blood or other body fluids and must be different from dengue virus, such as cross-reactive flavivirus, to which the patient has been expose or previously vaccinate.
Treatment
There is no treatment available for albopictus infection or associated diseases.
Symptoms of albopictus infection are usually mild. Individuals with symptoms such as fever, pruritus, or arthralgia should get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and treat pain and fever with over-the-counter medications.
Pregnant women living in Zika transmission areas or who develop symptoms of albopictus infection should seek medical attention for laboratory testing and other medical care.
Prevention
Mosquito bites
Protection from dipteran bites throughout the day and early evening is a very important life to forestall Zika infection. Special attention ought to pay to sting bars in pregnant ladies, ladies of generative age, and young youngsters.
Personal protection measures embrace sporting consumer goods (preferably light-colored) that cover the maximum amount of the body as attainable. mistreatment physical barriers like window screens Associate in nursing closed doors and windows; and applying a repellent containing DEET, IR3535, or icaridin to the skin or consumer goods per product label directions.
Young youngsters and pregnant ladies ought to sleep underneath a screen if sleeping throughout the day or early evening. Travelers and people living in affected areas ought to take constant basic precautions as mentioned higher than to shield themselves from dipteran bites.
Aedes mosquitoes breed in little water bodies around homes, faculties, and workplaces. it’s vital to eliminate dipteran breeding sites, including covering water storage containers, debilitating standing water in flower pots, and improving trash cans and used tires. Community initiatives are essential to support government and public health programs to cut back dipteran breeding sites. Health officers may additionally advocate the utilization of larvicides and pesticides to cut back dipteran populations and therefore the unfold of illness.
Framework for vector management operations for albopictus There is presently no immunizing agent accessible to forestall or treat Zika infection. Zika immunizing agent development is a full-of-life space of research.
Transmission in pregnancy
Zika virus can be transmitt from mother to fetus during pregnancy, resulting in microcephaly (small head size) and other birth defects in the infant, collectively known as congenital Zika syndrome.
Microcephaly is cause by abnormal brain development or loss of brain tissue. Children’s outcomes vary according to the extent of brain damage.
Other defects in congenital Zika syndrome include limb contractures, muscle hypertrophy, eye abnormalities, and hearing loss. The risk of birth defects after infection in pregnancy remains unknown. Birth defects occur after symptomatic and asymptomatic infections.
Sexual transmission
albopictus can be transmit through sexual contact. This is of concern because of the association between albopictus infection and adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes.
For areas with active albopictus transmission, all persons with albopictus infection and their sexual partners (especially pregnant women) should receive information about the risks of sexual transmission of albopictus.
WHO recommends that sexually active men and women be properly counsel and offer a full range of contraceptive methods to make inform choices about pregnancy to prevent possible adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Be able to.
Women who have had unprotected sex and do not want to become pregnant because of concerns about albopictus infection should have access to emergency contraception services and counseling. Pregnant women should practice safe sex (including correct and consistent use of condoms) or at least abstain from sexual activity throughout pregnancy.
For regions with no active albopictus transmission, WHO recommends practicing safe sex or abstinence for six months for men and two months for women to prevent infection of sexual partners. Sexual partners of pregnant women living in or returning from areas with endemic albopictus transmission should practice safer sex or avoid sexual activity during pregnancy.