{"id":13534,"date":"2021-07-09T13:12:37","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T07:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nerising.in\/?p=13534"},"modified":"2021-07-09T13:12:37","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T07:42:37","slug":"zika-virus-all-you-need-to-know-symptoms-prevention-and-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northeastrising.in\/test\/zika-virus-all-you-need-to-know-symptoms-prevention-and-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Zika virus: All you need to know \u2014 symptoms, prevention and control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kolkata, July 09:\u00a0<\/strong>Kerala health Minister Veena George confirmed the first case of Zika virus and there are 13 other suspected cases of the virus from Thiruvananthapuram.<\/p>\n

A 24-year-old woman, hailing from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district, was hospitalized on 28 June with fever, headache, and red marks on her body. The tests conducted at the hospital confirmed that she was positive following which her samples were sent to NIV, Pune.<\/p>\n

The woman, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, delivered her baby on 7 July and her condition was satisfactory.<\/p>\n

Though she does not have any travel history outside the state, her house is on the Tamil Nadu border and a week ago, her mother had also shown similar symptoms, a government release added.<\/p>\n

Zika virus infection:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, and the symptoms are similar to dengue including fever, skin rashes, and joint pain. According to the World Health Organisation<\/a><\/span> (WHO), the symptoms, which are generally mild and also include conjunctivitis, muscle pain, malaise, and headache, usually last for 2\u20137 days. The majority of those infected with the Zika virus do not develop symptoms.<\/p>\n

According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), severe diseases requiring hospitalization and deaths are uncommon. However, in rare cases, Zika may cause Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome (GBS).<\/p>\n

What is Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the CDC, Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome is “an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person\u2019s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WHO states that the syndrome can affect the peripheral nerves that control muscle strength as well as those transmitting feelings of pain, temperature, and touch, which can result in muscle weakness and loss of sensation in the legs and\/or arms.<\/p>\n

What are the causes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the CDC, the causes of GBS are not yet fully known but in most cases, GBS is preceded by an infection. This could be a bacterial or viral infection, according to the WHO. GBS may also be triggered by vaccine administration or surgery, it adds.<\/p>\n

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokein the US’s National Institutes of Health, GBS is neither contagious nor hereditary.\u00a0 It is called an autoimmune disease as the damage is caused by the body\u2019s own immune system.<\/p>\n

“Normally the immune system uses antibodies (molecules produced in an immune response) and special white blood cells to protect us by attacking infecting microorganisms (bacteria and viruses). In Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, however, the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy nerves,”<\/strong> it states.<\/p>\n

How is GBS associated with the Zika virus?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In several countries where Zika virus outbreaks have been reported, an increase in GBS cases has been observed. The CDC states that its research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika but only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS.<\/p>\n

Does the syndrome affect a particular age group more?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the NINDS, GBS is estimated to affect about one in 1,00,000 people each year.\u00a0 According to the WHO, Guillain-Barr\u00e9 is a rare condition. Although it is more common in adults and in males, it can affect people in all age groups.\u00a0 The CDC states that true \u201cclusters\u201d of GBS cases are very unusual.<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WHO lists the following symptoms for the Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome:<\/p>\n