Essay On Zika Virus

Zika virus is a flavivirus and this disease is caused by a zika virus through the bike of an infected mosquito in tropical region. The vector that transmits this disease are Aedes mosquitoes and it is mainly A. aegypti which usually bite during the morning or late afternoon. Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus also spread yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya viruses. Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947. Outbreaks of this disease have been found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific. [1] There is an increase in the incidence of microcephaly or Guillain-Barré syndrome concomitantly with a Zika virus outbreak. [2] Microcephaly is a condition that children being born with unusually small heads. This is usually because of the brain failed to develop properly. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder. This could lead to paralysis and cause death. Zika virus is a mild disease and most people who infected with the virus do not show symptoms. [3] There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for this disease currently. The best way to prevent Zika virus disease is to avoid from mosquito bites. [1]

aegypti and A. albopictus in tropical region. In most cases, it is spread through the Aedes aegypti mosquito in tropical and subtropical regions, while Aedes albopictus mosquito transmits the virus to the regions with cooler temperatures. [1] They prefer to live indoors and outdoors near people. These mosquitoes lay eggs in or near standing water. The examples are flower pots and animal dishes. The mosquitoes that spread the disease are same with vector cause the spread of yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue viruses. The mosquitoes usually bite during the morning and late afternoon. Once the mosquitoes bite a person that already infected with the virus then they also become infected.