ZIKA VIRUS- THE LATEST MUST KNOW DISEASE

Abstract

A member of the Flaviviridae family and Flavivirus genus, Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in the Zika forest of Uganda. Till 2007, when it had the first big outbreak in the Pacific Ocean, only 14-15 cases were documented. It is transmitted by the daytime biter aedes mosquito and it causes illness similar to mild form of dengue and symptoms disappear within a week. The much concern is a probable link between Zika fever and neonatal microcephaly by mother to child transmission. Brazil has seen an unusual surge of Zika virus over the past 2 years- possibly after the arrival of virus with World Cup travellers in 2014. Since October 2015, Brazil alone had almost 4000 cases of neonatal microcephaly. The concern is that these microcephalic babies are accompanied by incomplete brain development, which will lead to a lifetime disability.

Countries including El Salvador have advised women to delay pregnancy for the next few years. Women who have made trips to Zika affected countries and developedZika symptoms- fever, rashes, conjunctivitis, myalgia- within 2 weeks of travel need to be tested for the virus along with regular ultrasonographic monitoring of fetal growth. For adults, it causes a very mild disease from several days to maximum a week. In very rare cases severe neurological disabilities including Gullian- Barre syndrome have been reported.