Few words can instill fear in the minds of grown-ups like Zika. Since 2007, the outbreak of Zika virus in many parts of the South Pacific have been reported regularly. Just say the word and you can be sure that the person has your full attention and is probably trembling with fear. And yet, many people do not know what Zika virus is and how to prevent it. In this post, we are going to give you important details about Zika virus, symptoms and preventions.

What is Zika Virus?

Zika is a virus that is spread by the Aedes species of mosquitoes, the carrier of other diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, etc. However, Zika infection is more feared than other mosquito-borne diseases since it is contagious and can also be transmitted via sexual contact, blood transfusion, etc.

An infected pregnant woman can transfer the virus to her unborn child leading to birth defects such as microcephaly or even miscarriage and death. In many cases, babies born to mothers infected with Zika virus may suffer from issues such as developmental delay, hearing loss, intellectual disability, impaired vision, etc.

Symptoms of Zika Virus

The symptoms of Zika virus are quite common to other viral infections and may go unnoticed. In many cases, the symptoms do not develop until two to seven days after the infection and can last for more than a week. Here are a few of the main symptoms of Zika virus:

• Fever
• Rashes
• Joint Pain
• Conjectivitis

The first reports of infection of Zika virus in India came to light in 2016. Zika virus is yet to be an epidemic (like Dengue and Malaria) in India. However, one of the main reasons why you need to take a few precautions to protect yourself from Zika virus is that even though it is not yet prevalent but the carrier of the disease, Aedes mosquito, is widely present in all parts of India.

Zika Virus Prevention

 

Many companies are working on developing a cure but there are no vaccinations available on the market to protect you and your family from Zika virus yet. Prevention is your best bet. One of the easiest ways to protect your loved ones from Zika virus is by protecting yourself against mosquito bites.
Aedes mosquito, the carrier of Zika virus and other infections, is active during the day and usually bites early in the morning or in the evening. By protecting yourself with effective mosquito repellents, you can ensure that you stay safe. When you are indoors, you can switch on a mosquito repellent such as GoodKnight Activ+ System that keeps mosquitoes at bay.
To protect yourself while you are stepping out, you can apply a mosquito repellent cream or mosquito repellent spray on your skin.

 
Most mosquito repellents contain ingredients that have a strong smell and deter mosquitoes from approaching and biting you. The common ingredients in mosquito repellents are Eucalyptus oil, Citronella oil, etc. Most of these products offer up to 12-hour protection which means that you spray it once a day on your clothes and live your life normally without worrying about a Zika infection.
Since children have sensitive skin, you can use mosquito repellent fabric roll-ons since they are equally effective in deterring mosquitoes.

The usual measures to discourage the growth of mosquitoes within your vicinity are of paramount importance. Never let water accumulate anywhere near your house or neighbourhood since mosquitoes breed in fresh water.
A few simple precautionary measures can go a long way in protecting you and your family from Zika virus.