Source: This post “Zika Virus” is based on the article “Karnataka steps up surveillance after detection of Zika virus in mosquito pool in Chikkaballapura” published in “The Hindu” on 2nd November 2023.
Why in the News?
Karnataka health department issues advisory after detection of Zika virus in mosquito pool in Chikkaballapura.
What is Zika Virus?
| About | It is a mosquito-borne virus first identified in Uganda in 1947 in a Rhesus macaque monkey. This case was followed by evidences of infection and diseases in humans in other African countries in the 1950s. |
| Transmission | (1) Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. (2) Zika virus can migrate between humans through sexual contact. (3) An infected mother can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth. |
| Symptoms | (1) Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms. (2) People who develop symptoms of Zika virus infections, have similar symptoms like other arbovirus infections, such as dengue. (Arbovirus infections– infections caused by a group of viruses spread to people by the bite of infected arthropods (insects) such as mosquitoes and ticks) Some of the common symptoms are Fever Skin rashes Conjunctivitis Muscle and joint pain Malaise, and headache (3) Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly (smaller than normal head size). |
| Diagnosis | By laboratory tests of blood |
| Treatment | (1) There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Zika virus infection or disease. (2) People with symptoms such as rash, fever or joint pain should get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and treat symptoms with antipyretics and/or analgesics. |
| Prevention | (1) Prevention and control rely on reducing mosquitoes through reduction of mosquito breeding sources. (2) Reducing contact between mosquitoes and people- This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured), using physical barriers such as screens, closing doors and windows, and sleeping under mosquito nets. |
What are the initiatives of Government of India to control the spread of Zika Virus?
(1) Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme- To strengthen/maintain decentralized laboratory based and IT enabled disease surveillance systems for epidemic prone diseases to monitor disease trends.
(2) National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme- The central nodal agency for prevention and control of six vector borne diseases i.e. Malaria, Dengue, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis and Chikungunya in India.
(3) Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)- An initiative under the National Health Mission which has a surveillance system for Microcephaly (system for monitoring birth defects).
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