Zika Virus: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
What is the Zika virus? The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector of the Zika virus, a flavivirus spread by mosquitoes. Since its 1947 discovery in Uganda, it has been linked to multiple epidemics worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Zika has drawn attention because it has been linked to neurological disorders like Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and birth abnormalities, especially microcephaly in newborns. Background and History of Zika Virus In 1947 : It was found in a rhesus monkey in Uganda's Zika woodland. 1952: Tanzania and Uganda reported the first human cases. 2007: Yap, a Pacific island, reported a significant outbreak. Brazil saw a significant outbreak in 2015–2016 that was connected to an increase in microcephaly. Sporadic outbreaks throughout India, South America, and Southeast Asia from 2021 to the present. The virus continues to pose a threat to worldwide public health, particularly in light of growing mosquito populati...