Zika Virus - Origin, Symptoms, Spread and Treatment

What is Zika Virus?

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that was first discovered in the 1940s. It has recently erupted as an epidemic in Central and South America, and it has now spread to other parts of the world.

Originally, it was thought to be a threat exclusively for pregnant women due to its association with microcephaly (a birth defect). However, research has found that Zika may also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), cancerous tumors called teratomas, and other complications for newborns.

What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms of Zika are typically mild but may include fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes. Severe infections may cause vision problems or even neurological disorders.

How is It Spread?

Zika is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Several species of mosquitoes can carry Zika, but most often people are bitten by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. They are larger than other tropical mosquitoes and tend to breed in stagnant water or marshy areas.

People can contract Zika by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Unlikely, but the virus has been found in blood banks where patients who have donated blood have had time to recover from their illness before giving blood, though it's unclear if the donor themselves has ever been sickened by Zika before giving blood.

Where Did Zika Come From?

Zika has its origins in Africa and Asia. It was first discovered in 1947 near Uganda, and since then it has appeared in Africa, South America, and Asia. Zika was first identified in the Zika forest of Uganda during the 1940s when it was known as "African Zika" or "Runaway African."

The virus had originally been isolated in rhesus macaques, but they are not the only animal to have been infected with Zika. Bottlenose dolphins have also tested positive for the virus, probably contracting it while living in bodies of water where Aedes aegypti is present.

How Is Zika Treated?

Zika is typically treated with rest, fluids, and paracetamol. Some people may also take dengue fever medications.

What Should Women Planning Pregnancy Do?

Pregnant women should avoid traveling to Zika-infected areas and those who have recently traveled by air. If a pregnant woman does become ill with Zika, she should be treated as if she had the flu and given over-the-counter medicines such as Tamiflu or Relenza.

Women should also take other precautions: Covering their arms and legs, showering alone for at least five minutes, wearing long sleeves and pants, and using mosquito repellent can help prevent Zika infections.

Frequently Asked Questions on Zika Virus

What is Zika Funding?

The Zika virus has been a huge scourge in Latin America and the Caribbean, causing a variety of birth defects. The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 4 million people may be infected, but only a small percentage of them have shown symptoms.

As a result, the number of those infected is unclear. In 2015, Stanford Medicine's Core Tissue Core Laboratory was awarded $500K from the National Institutes of Health to develop better tests for diagnosing microcephaly and other developmental disorders in infants born to mothers who have been infected with Zika. In July 2016, Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said that the cost of treating the Zika virus will be $100 million.

Although there is no cure for Zika, medical research and development continue in hopes that a vaccine and/or treatment will be discovered and available in time.

What Are The Complications?

Zika has been found to cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a serious condition that causes temporary paralysis. There is no cure for the syndrome, but the symptoms usually improve over time.

About one in five people who contract Zika will get GBS, but only about 5 to 10 percent of them will go on to develop full-blown GBS. The onset of this syndrome often occurs 6 to 12 weeks following infection with the virus; it can last for months or years after recovery.