The Zika virus is similar to the dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses.
The Zika virus, which is carried by infected mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti species, is transmitted mainly through a bite, but can also be contracted by intrauterine infection.
If an infected mosquito bites and infects a pregnant woman, the Zika virus can pass to the placenta and affect the embryo. Although anyone can get the Zika virus, pregnant women who become infected are at the highest risk due to the possibility of fetal microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities.
The Zika virus can be transmitted sexually. What has been observed predominantly is transmission of the virus from infected men to their female sexual partners through vaginal intercourse. On the other hand, a man infected with the virus can transmit it to a man or woman through anal intercourse.
The symptoms of this virus are generally mild, accompanied by fever, rash, and joint pain.
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Key facts about the Zika virus
The existence of the Zika virus was first reported in Uganda in 1947, but no outbreak of the Zika virus had been reported on the American continent until 2015.
The symptoms of Zika are mostly mild, with only one in five infected people showing signs of the disease. Hospitalization is rarely necessary for this infection.
Zika can be diagnosed through a blood test.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains an up-to-date list of countries where Zika outbreaks have occurred. Pregnant women should consult their OB / GYN if they have to travel to any of the affected areas, in addition to taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
There is currently no vaccine or antiviral treatment for Zika. Courtesy: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
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