3 questions about the Zika virus that you were too embarrassed to ask

Never heard about Zika virus. Is it a new virus?

Zika is not a new virus; the virus was first recorded in 1947 in the Zika forest in Uganda. Recently Zika virus had been the top news in the Medias. The virus had made the health expert to be seriously worried about it. Zika virus has been mostly concentrated in Central and South America and the Caribbean and it seems to go much further than we are thinking about it

What happens if you get Zika?

Zika virus is mainly caused by bite of Aedes mosquitoes. The incubation period of Zika virus disease is not clear, but is likely to be 2 t0 12 days from the bite of the mosquito. The symptoms of the virus are not seen to all the people. Roughly around 20 % of the people have in fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. These symptoms are usually last for 2-7 days from the bite of the mosquito.
It has reported to be a potential neurological and auto-immune complication when it out breaks in 2013 and 2015 in French Polynesia and Brazil. In Northeast Brazil local authorities has noticed an increase in babies born with microcephaly.
In some of the people in some of the cases the virus attack the people's immune systems damage their nerve cells, leading to muscle weakness and even paralysis.

What are the best ways for prevention of Zika virus diseases?

The best way to prevent diseases is to avoid being bitten by the mosquito altogether.

•In window and door use screens and nets to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Remove sources of standing water so that the mosquito won’t get breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Use body covering clothes while outings.
• Use mosquito net while sleeping.

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