Zika virus in India: Symptoms, treatment and protective measures you need to follow!

New Delhi: Zika, the mosquito-borne disease, broke out as an epidemic in Brazil in 2015 and spread to 70 countries in the world.

In November 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that Zika was no longer a public health emergency. Earlier this month, Brazil officially declared Zika emergency over.

However, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirming the first three cases of Zika virus in India on Friday, it seems that the mosquito-borne disease is slowly spreading its wings.

The flavivirus is known to be carried by an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. Albopictus) that are also responsible for the transmission of dengue and chikungunya viruses.

All the three Indian cases were reported from the Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad which includes a pregnant lady who was tested positive in January 2017.

The WHO in a statement said,"The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Government of India (MoHFW) reported three laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat, State, India."

This largely brings health concerns to the forefront and in this situation, it becomes more necessary and important as ever, to do everything we can in order to shield ourselves from getting bitten.

This includes being well-informed about the Zika virus and how you can detect it.

What we know so far:

• No vaccine exists to prevent Zika.
• Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite during the day and night.
• Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.
• Zika can be passed through sexual activity from a person who has Zika to his or her partners. Condoms can reduce the chance of contracting Zika.
• Only about 1 in 5 people with the virus will exhibit symptoms. The vast majority has no symptoms at all.
• Zika virus symptoms normally last for 2 to 7 days.

What are the symptoms?

Unfortunately, people suffering from Zika virus often don't show any symptoms. In some cases, the virus shows very mild symptoms before taking affecting the patient completely. Basic symptoms of the virus include:

• Fever
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis (Pink eye)
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Vomiting

How can we treat it?

With no specific treatment per say, patients suffering from Zika are often advised complete bed rest and increased water intake. For the fever, patients are treated with basic paracetamol and pain medication is also prescribed by the doctors.

To detect the virus in the body, a blood analysis as well as a urine test is required.

What can we do to protect ourselves?

Since the Aedes mosquito that transmits the virus is active in the mornings, Zika has a higher potential to spread. Therefore, precautionary measures are a must.

• One of the first things to do in this case is apply mosquito repellant on your body before stepping out and ensure that you have the repellant handy wherever you go.
• Avoid travelling to spaces where mosquitoes are in abundance.
• Eliminate sources of standing water – roof gutters, bird baths, tyres, unused containers and flower pots.
• Avoid exercising outdoors.
• Wear synthetic fibers and light coloured clothing. Mosquitoes have the ability to feed through clothes as well, therefore, what we need is clothing made out of synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and rayon, which is more tightly-woven and helps block mosquito bites.
• Wear covering shoes. Since some people have sweaty feet, which sets off a mosquito's taste buds, sneakers are your best bet to avoid getting bitten, otherwise wear socks to protect your feet from mosquito bites.
• Avoid wearing floral fragrances, since they are known to attract mosquitoes.
• Set up protective mesh screens in your doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.