Zika is a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. There aren’t many researches on the virus since it was only isolated in humans in the late 60s. There isn’t a vaccine nor a cure for the Zika virus, and only 1 in 5 patients will experience any symptoms.
Zika virus has been limited to Asia and Africa and it has been recently spreading to the Americas. In 2014, the virus spread to the Pacific Islands and in 2015 it hit Mexico. Zika is now rapidly spreading in Brazil, 1.5 million cases in 20 countries in Central and South America.
A recent development has made Zika virus even more frightening. There are some evidence showing that the virus is related to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nerve disorder that might cause paralysis and microcephaly, a birth defect that causes abnormal brain and skull growth.
Here are some of the symptoms of the Zika virus:
- 1 in 5 people infected with Zika become ill.
- The most common symptoms include: flu, joint pain, rash, headaches and muscle pain.
- The illness is mainly mild with symptoms that last for a few days up to a week.
- The virus remains in the blood of the infected person for a few days.
- Some cases require hospitalization.
- Deaths are rare.
Treatment
There isn’t any vaccine or a cure for the virus, but there are some simple ways to treat it:
- Drink a lot of fluids to keep your body hydrated.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Take medicine such as acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain.
The World Health Organization is supposed to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the Zika virus and its fast spreading.
Watch out for those mosquitoes and be aware that Zika is transmitted through them!