Zika Virus

The Zika virus is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus) and is related to other diseases including dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile fever.

The virus is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which is active during the day and at night. 

Zika is transmitted through sexual intercourses or is passed from mother to child during pregnancy or at birth.

Currently, there is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika virus.

Mosquito Diseases

  

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Symptoms

The most common, milder symptoms include fever, a rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye), sometimes nausea and vomiting, which last from several days to a week. 

The danger of the virus is that it spreads from pregnant women to their babies, which can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations and other birth defects.

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Prevention & Treatment

Best Prevention is to use a 50% DEET product to avoid mosquito bites complemented by mosquito nets.

The flu-like symptoms can be so mild that they go unnoticed and most people will not visit a doctor. However, pregnant women experiencing any symptom must immediately see a doctor for tests, which will confirm the infection.

In addition to a fever and pain relief medication such as paracetamol, contaminated individuals must get plenty of rest and drink regularly to avoid dehydration.

Since the only effective protection is prevention, it is essential to use the appropriate skin repellent to prevent mosquito bites in affected regions.