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What is Zika Virus
We have witnessed an outbreak of various diseases that have traumatized us and has created fear in our minds. Now one such potential virus that may cause another pandemic is the Zika Virus. The zika virus came around in the year 1947. This is caused by a virus that is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes primarily. Since 2020, the Zika virus has found its prominence in Latin America, Central Africa, Caribbeans. Lately, in India, the Zika virus turned out to be deadly within the province of western Gujrat.
Symptoms of Zika Virus
- 1 flu like mild fever
- 2 rashes
- 3 headache
- 4 joint pain
- 5 muscle pain
- 6 conjunctivitis
- 5 red eye
However other than, various other symptoms are found more and more after the initial 3-7 days after infection. Usually, the zika virus lasts for about 3-7 days after infection but if not taken care of properly can turn out to be very dangerous.
How is Zika Virus similar to Covid-19?
Various scientific publications have found a strange similarity between the zika virus and the second wave of sar-CoV2. The results are decided through laboratory investigations and fieldwork done by the scientists of the medical field. In the case of novel pathogens, this helps all involved in the study of the infectious agent to pool the information, informing interventions by governments, healthcare agencies, and other researchers. The current study deals with the two recent viruses that have caused the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Here is a comparison of both Zika virus and Covid virus.
| ZIKA VIRUS | COVID |
| RNA virus, single stranded and positive | RNA virus single stranded and postive |
| Family Flaviviridae | Family Coronaviridae |
| Genus Flavivirus | Genus Betacoronavirus |
| Symptoms are conjunctivitis, skin rash, fever, Myoarthralgia, headache | fever, cough, Dyspnoea, Odynophagia, Arthralgia |
| Transmission mechanisms are vector, sexual, maternal-fetal, blood products, person to person. | Transmission mechanisms are Respiratory, Person to person, Materno-fetal, Fecal-oral |
| Complications are Guillain Barre syndrome, Congenital Zika Syndrome, Myelitis, encephalitis | Complications that may occur are Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Severe pneumonia |
Zika Virus can be considered as one of the rising diseases that can affect a lot of people and if not kept in check can be turned into a pandemic. In the US, there were 62 Zika virus infections that were reported in 2015, then it became 5000 in the year 2016. Zika virus is taken as a notifiable condition that has been acclaimed nationally. Although not many are affected by this virus but cases still exist and deaths have occurred. Statistics have said that zika virus has an 8.3% death rate. So if not looked after properly, may result in a larger pandemic that we do not anticipate.
Treatment
Zika virus due to early or initial infection can be cured. Although no particular vaccine has been created for Zika virus, one can relieve themselves off this disease by providing oneself plenty of fluids first to avoid dehydration. The over-the-counter (OTC) medication acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help relieve joint pain and fever.
Conclusion
Zika Virus is a dangerous virus which is undergoing intense study to find out other causes and symptoms. Any disease which is not taken care of properly can turn into a deadly pandemic taking away a lot of lives. Zika virus has no specific medicines or vaccines. One needs to take proper rest and relieve themselves off the symptoms. One must still must be careful to avoid being affected by Zika virus. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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It lasts about 2-7 days.
CDC’s Zika virus test is suggested for testing of nonpregnant women who want to conceive.
If you get bitten by Aedes mosquito who is carrying Zika virus, a rash will occur.