Zika Virus

Zika virus 

1.Zika virus mode of transmission is thru mosquito bite .

2.It is spread by Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus.

3.It can be transmitted from pregnant women to fetus .

4.In pregnancy if virus infection occurs it can lead to MICROCEPHALY and  Severe Neural tube defects

5.It can be transmitted from infected person to sex partner .

 6.Transmission can be reduced by use of condom.

7.Prevention is mainly by preventing mosquito bite.

8.Especially pregnant women to be taken care of by using approved mosquito repellent.

9.Many mosquito repellent are safe for use during breast feeding and pregnancy.

10.Zika virus can survive in semen than in any other body fluids.So it can be transmitted through sex(vaginal anal or oral).

11.During first week of infection Zika virus is found in blood.

 12.Spread to others can be prevented by taking proper precautions to avoid mosquito bite during this period.

13.NO VACCINE AVAILABLE

14.No Medicine available

15.Symptoms: Most people infected with Zika virus is asymptomatic.

symptoms are usually mild  Fever,rash,head ache, conjunctivitis,joint pain and muscle pain

16.Patient usually don't fall sick enough to go to hospital

17Testing to be done within a week

18.NAAT(Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests) assays are molecular test used to detect viral genome.

19.IgM antibody is detected in blood after 7 days of infection upto 12 weeks

20.Problem with IgM antibody is cross reactivity with other flavi virus diseases causing increased false positives

21.PRNT(plaque reduction Neutralisation test) is used for confirming IgM antibody positive cases .

22.ln areas with high prevalence of dengue and Zika virus neutralizing antibodies, PRNT may not confirm a significant proportion of IgM positive results.