10 Facts about Zika Virus
10 Facts about Zika Virus
By: Arlene Gentallan
Zika virus is causing an outrage because of serious effect it inflicts to unborn children. Here are the facts you should know about this tropical disease:
1. Did you know that zika virus was first seen in monkeys in Zika Forest in Uganda way back 1947.
2. Zika virus is a flaviviruses transmitted by bite of Aedes mosquito. These mosquitoes are most active during the day.
3. If a pregnant woman gets infected with zika virus, it can lead to devastating outcome to the unborn child. Zika virus shrinks the brain and head of an unborn child (microcephaly) resulting to lifelong mental deficiency.
4. Zika produces mild flu like symptoms like fever, headache body pain, joint pain, rashes, and conjunctivitis which typically last for about a week.
5. Most people who are infected with zika virus do not have symptom of the disease. If symptoms does appear, it is usually mild and can be mistaken for flu or dengue.
6. Zika virus can be transmitted by sexual contact. It is possible to transmit the virus via blood transfusion.
7. Treatment for zika is supportive like increasing oral fluid intake, encouraging rest, and alleviating symptoms.
8. Currently, there is no vaccine that can prevent zika virus. Steps to prevent moquito bite should be taken (i.e. discourage traveling to Zika prone countries while pregnant, eliminate breeding ground of mosquito, and using insect repellent.)
9. Zika virus is linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease causing ascending paralysis (from feet to head).
10. Infection with zika virus can provide life-long immunity against this disease.
By: Arlene Gentallan
 |
| 10 Facts about Zika Virus |
Zika virus is causing an outrage because of serious effect it inflicts to unborn children. Here are the facts you should know about this tropical disease:
1. Did you know that zika virus was first seen in monkeys in Zika Forest in Uganda way back 1947.
2. Zika virus is a flaviviruses transmitted by bite of Aedes mosquito. These mosquitoes are most active during the day.
3. If a pregnant woman gets infected with zika virus, it can lead to devastating outcome to the unborn child. Zika virus shrinks the brain and head of an unborn child (microcephaly) resulting to lifelong mental deficiency.
4. Zika produces mild flu like symptoms like fever, headache body pain, joint pain, rashes, and conjunctivitis which typically last for about a week.
5. Most people who are infected with zika virus do not have symptom of the disease. If symptoms does appear, it is usually mild and can be mistaken for flu or dengue.
6. Zika virus can be transmitted by sexual contact. It is possible to transmit the virus via blood transfusion.
7. Treatment for zika is supportive like increasing oral fluid intake, encouraging rest, and alleviating symptoms.
8. Currently, there is no vaccine that can prevent zika virus. Steps to prevent moquito bite should be taken (i.e. discourage traveling to Zika prone countries while pregnant, eliminate breeding ground of mosquito, and using insect repellent.)
9. Zika virus is linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease causing ascending paralysis (from feet to head).
10. Infection with zika virus can provide life-long immunity against this disease.
