ZIKA VIRUS

I was watching a documentary on the spread of zika virus and I grew really inquisitive. I got to read up some facts which I would love to share with you.  So if you planning a trip to a Zika infected area, it's important you take note of these things.

A particular mosquito specie called Aedes which is commonly know for the spread of the dengue fever virus is mainly responsible for the spread of this virus. The most common symptoms are fever, rashes, conjunctivitis (Redness of the eyes) and joint pain. People infected with this virus usually do not get so sick as to need a trip to the hospital and there are rarely any records of death due to the virus and this is the tricky part because most people infected do not even know that they carry the virus.

The virus can be spread through mosquito bites or through sex.  Of particular importance is the effect of the virus on pregnant women. Men who has worked or lived in areas with the Zika infections are advised to adopt safer sexual practices or abstain from sex for at least 8 weeks after their return even though they don't show symptoms. 

Men who have had symptoms are also advised to adopt safer sexual practices or abstain from sex for at least 6 months while those planning to get pregnant must wait for at least 8 weeks before trying to conceive if they are no symptoms of the Zika virus infection and 6 months if one or both partners are symptomatic. 

Pregnant women infected with the Zika virus could have their fetuses infected. A birth defect of the fetuses brain known as microcephaly (a condition whereby the brain does not develop normally) is seen among these infants at their birth amongst other defects such as eye , earring deficits ,impaired growth and occasionally an uncommon sickness of the nervous system.

According to the Center for Disease prevention and Control, there are no specific medicines for treating the zika virus but you may treat the symptoms by getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to prevent dehydration and  taking medications such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. Infected persons were also advised not to take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Seeking the help of healthcare practitioners is important at the onset of the symptoms.

In preventing the infection of the virus, travelers to infected regions have been advised to wear long sleeves shirts and pants at all time when outdoor and stay in places with air-conditioning and window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside when indoor. Taking steps to prevent the bite is also necessary and this can be achieved by traveling with pre-treated items or by manually treating clothing's and gears with permethrin (an insect repellent that not only repels the insects but kills them at contact). Be certain to  adopt the use of EPA approved insect repellents and follow the directives as they have been proven safe for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Deploying the use of mosquito nets at all time during your stay in sensitive areas is also important and above all the need to  abstain from any form of sexual activities can not be over emphasized.

Uncertainties such as if there is a safe time during pregnancy to travel to an area with Zika , if you would get infected at a bite or if infected, what the probability of having an infected fetus will be are some of the puzzles in need of unraveling

Specific areas where the virus is spreading are often difficult to determine as they tend to change over time so if you need to travel to an area you are unsure of kindly visit the CDC Traveler's Health Site ( http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information) for the most updated travel information.

Watching the documentary made my heart break as I watched nurses test the babies hearing ability by clashing gongs at a distance hoping for the slightest nod in the direction of the sound and waving their hands across their cute faces hoping for a blink ...... These kids were then made to wear glasses with bands around their heads to aid their sights..

I can't help but wonder what the future holds for these babies...