Research on yellow fever led to the discovery of the Zika virus. The Zika virus was introduced by the mosquitoes that are found in the Ziika forest in Uganda. People affected by the Zika virus often experience different symptoms; some may have a mild rash or fever, while some might feel a pain in the joints. Headaches, red eyes, and discomfort are other symptoms of the Zika virus. Recommended Read:  Signs of the Zika Virus This virus can prove to be dangerous to pregnant women as their infants’ may suffer from microcephaly, which is a brain condition where the brain is not fully developed. There is another neurological disorder known as the Guillain-Barre syndrome that is caused by the same mosquito; however, it is a rare disease. The Zika virus was introduced to the list of diseases around the world after it was found that this virus is caused and carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The fever that Zika virus causes after being bitten by this mosquito is not life-threatening as dengue and chikungunya, but it can be impact the unborn child of a pregnant woman. A brief introduction and overview of the Zika virus has been outlined below for a better understanding of this virus.

There are measurable steps that one needs to take to protect themselves from the Zika virus. If you are taking care of a family member or a friend who is infected with the Zika virus, you would need to take steps to protect yourself from the exposure to the person’s blood and bodily fluids. Below are some tips that will help you, your partner, your family members, your friends, and your community to effectively prevent the Zika virus from spreading. Zika prevention is not possible without preventing yourself from mosquito bites. The Zika virus usually spreads to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. You also check for areas with risk of the Zika virus. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent mosquito bites, thereby ensuring that effective steps are taken for Zika prevention. One can use the following tips to help prevent the Zika virus: Use insect repellent It is suggested to use insect repellents that are registered by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When used with proper directions, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven effective and safe, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Ensure that you always follow the product label instructions. Also, re-apply the insect repellent as directed, and only spray on exposed skin, i.e., which is not covered by clothing.

Zika virus disease is a mosquito-borne viral infection. It primarily occurs in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world. A zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and is also linked with miscarriage. Microcephaly is a potentially fatal congenital brain condition. Guillain-Barre syndrome is also one of the other conditions that can be caused by the zika virus. There are a lot of patients affected by zika virus that do not show any common symptoms or signs that describe the disease. Mild fever, rash, and muscle pain are some of the most common zika symptoms reported by the patients. Symptoms The signs and symptoms of this condition are highly uncommon and as many as four out of five people do not necessarily show any signs and symptoms of the condition. And, in any case, if there are symptoms that are present in the patient, they usually occur in a period of two to seven days after the patient is bitten by the infected mosquito. Most common zika symptoms include: Mild fever Rash Joint or muscle pain Other signs and symptoms include: Headache Red eyes (conjunctivitis) Feeling of discomfort in the body Most people recover from these symptoms in about a week’s time.

Diagnosing Zika can be difficult because the symptoms mimic many different viruses. There are specific serologic studies that can be performed in order to confirm if a patient has Zika. The serologic study most used is the RT-PCR test which stands for Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction. This test looks for the actual RNA of the virus within the patient’s blood. The best time to test for this is during the first week of disease because at this time the viral load will be very high. If the virus is not tested for within the first week, then it is better to look for a specific antibody or immunoglobulin (IgM). Looking for IgM antibodies against the Zika can help determine if the patient has been exposed or has the Zika virus; this is done utilizing ELISA. A patient’s urine can also be tested for RRT-PCR if tested within 2 weeks of symptom onset. If the results are positive then this can be confirmatory that the patient does have Zika. Pregnant women should be screened because of the significance the effects may have on the fetus. If any pregnant woman has a history significant for travel to an area in which there is an outbreak of Zika, then they should have an examination which focuses on ensuring that the fetus is healthy and not exhibiting signs of microcephaly.

As discussed above, the Zika virus is a single-stranded RNA virus that in most cases utilizes the Aedes species of Mosquito to transmit the virus to humans via a mosquito bite. A mosquito that is infected by the Zika virus bites a human, and then, in turn, the human becomes infected with the virus. The virus can also be transmitted from human to human through sexual intercourse or may be transmitted from mother to fetus across the placenta. The spread of the Zika may also occur through a blood transfusion as well. While other modes and methods of transfer are still unknown, as more research is performed regarding the virus more methods of transmission may be identified.  A risk factor for transmission is living in an area where there are known outbreaks of the Zika. These areas are deemed high-risk and the mosquitos in those areas can transmit the infection at an increased rate when compared to other areas in the world. If the transmission from sexual intercourse is a major concern, then having unprotected sexual intercourse can increase one’s risk of transferring the Zika virus from partner to partner. It is even recommended that protection via a condom be used during any sexual encounter between women and men who have been exposed to areas where the Zika virus is prevalent.