There is growing concern over the spread of the Zika virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak and its complications in newborns as a public health emergency. Here are five things you should know about the virus:
1. The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, though there have also been rare documented cases of sexual transmission.
According to the WHO, mosquitoes become infected with the Zika virus when they bite an infected person. They then spread the virus by biting other uninfected people.
Only female Aedes mosquitoes bite, and they are intermittent feeders-- preferring to bite more than one person.
Aedes mosquitoes are also common carriers of chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.
2. Zika virus typically occurs in tropical areas with large mosquito populations.
There are two types of Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit the Zika virus:
- Aedes aegypti: Zika typically spreads through this mosquito, which lives in tropical and subtropical regions and cannot survive in cooler temperatures.
- Aedes albopictus: This mosquito can hibernate and live in cooler temperatures.
According to the WHO, Aedes mosquitoes are weak flyers, but they may accidentally be transported by humans - piggybacking in cars or plants.
Currently, there are about 28 countries with active Zika virus transmission.
3. About 1 in 5 people actually experience symptoms of the Zika virus.
“A large number of patients who contract Zika virus will not have any symptoms,” says Jeffrey Haller, M.D., a primary care physician with Piedmont Atlanta. “If they do, they will typically present with fevers, rash, joint paint, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). They may also have muscle aches and headaches.”
Symptoms are usually mild and last for about two to seven days.
4. The Zika virus infection may be linked to a serious birth defect called microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a condition where a baby is born with an unusually small head. Babies who have microcephaly can suffer from a range of problems, including seizures, developmental delays and vision problems.
And while health officials are still trying to connect the link between Zika and microcephaly, they are warning pregnant women to protect themselves against mosquitoes.
“Individuals who cannot be become pregnant should not be very concerned as symptoms are quite mild and person to person transmission seems to be extremely rare,” says Jesse Couk, M.D., an infectious disease specialist with the Atlanta ID Group. “However, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant may have cause for concern. For these women, I suggest avoiding travel to Zika virus endemic regions and avoiding mosquitoes, particularly as their numbers increase in the spring and summer months.”
5. There is no vaccine.
Currently, there is no medication or vaccine to prevent the Zika virus. The best form of protection is to prevent mosquito bites. Dr. Couk recommends the following:
“Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk,” Dr. Couk says. “Wear long sleeve clothing and apply 30-50% DEET mosquito repellent to exposed skin before heading outdoors.”
Dr. Haller also recommends taking preventative measures to minimize the mosquito population.
“The main thing we can do is to eliminate freestanding water in our environment, which mosquitoes need to reproduce,” Dr. Haller says.
Need to see a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online.