The health department of Karnataka State recently raised an alert subsequent to a detection of the Zika virus in mosquito samples gathered from Talakayalabetta, Chikkaballapura village. The public health sector has been greatly concerned over the impacts of this mosquito-borne flavivirus.
Understanding the Zika Virus
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus primarily disseminated by Aedes mosquitoes, specifically Aedes aegypti. Additionally, it can also be conveyed from a mother to her fetus during gestation and transferred through sexual intercourse, as well as via blood transfusions and blood products.
The Zika virus possesses an RNA genome which means it has high potential for mutation accumulation. Genomic investigations have proposed that the Zika virus originated from two lineages, namely African and Asian.
Historical Perspective of the Zika Virus
Found in 1947 within infected monkeys from the Zika forest in Uganda, the first reported human cases occurred in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania. Since 2007, outbreaks have transpired across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific. Kerala and Karnataka in India have notably experienced outbreaks in recent years.
Symptoms and Related Conditions
Often, individuals with the Zika virus exhibit no symptoms. However, when they do occur, common symptoms are fever, joint pain, muscle pain, and headaches usually lasting between two to seven days. The Zika virus is associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathy, and myelitis. Interestingly, the interaction between Zika and dengue viruses significantly affects disease severity. Exposure to one can exacerbate the impact of the other, thus complicating vaccine development and public health management.
Complications and Treatment of Zika Virus
If a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus, it can cause congenital malformations such as microcephaly and other related conditions. Currently, no specific treatment exists for the Zika virus. Therefore, symptomatic relief and medical care are highly recommended if conditions start to worsen. No vaccine has been developed yet. Consequently, prevention strategies focus on protection against mosquito bites, elimination of breeding sites, and public health initiatives to control mosquito populations.
Indian Government Initiatives Against Zika Virus
To combat this health threat, the Indian Government launched the National Guidelines for Zika Virus Disease under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme. Moreover, the government has also established the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) which aims at enhancing the quality of life of children by providing comprehensive care.
Other Viral Diseases
Several viral diseases beside Zika have posed substantial threats to human health worldwide. These include Covid-19, Dengue, Nipah, Ebola, Yellow fever, Hepatitis, Japanese Encephalitis, Marburg Virus, Measles and Rubella, Influenza, HIV, Mpox, Chickenpox, West Nile Virus, Polio, and gastrointestinal viruses such as Norovirus, Rotavirus, and Astrovirus.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Question
In the 2017 Prelims of the UPSC Civil Services examination, one question was related to the Zika Virus: “In tropical regions, is the Zika virus disease transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue? Is sexual transmission of Zika virus disease possible?” The correct answer was both these statements are correct.