Zap Away Zika with Knowledge

Zika is a disease that comes from a mosquito known as the Aedes mosquito. According to a New York Times article published in July of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) had "declared an international health emergency over the spread of the Zika virus." But what exactly is the virus? How does one "catch" it? How does one know they have it? Is the US at risk? And most importantly, how does one avoid it?

Let's start at the beginning, back in 1947 that is. It was during that year that the virus was discovered in a forest in Uganda known as the Zika Forest. According to the WHO, it was found in monkeys by a group that was trying to monitor yellow fever. It wasn't until 1952 that it was found in humans. Back then, according to the New York Times article, it was thought to be a common virus in the African and Asian regions of the world, and it seemed rather contained in those until around 2013. Around this time Brazil had begun to see a "mystery disease," and by 2015 the mystery had been solved: Zika had traveled across the ocean. Today, the virus has spread northward to the southern United States.

A photo (by Allison Cook) of the map found in the New York Times
article showing areas around the world infected with Zika. 

The mosquito that transmits the disease also is a carrier of yellow fever, dengue fever, and chikungunya, according to WebMD. All four viruses seem to be passed in a similar way: an infected person is bitten by the Aedes mosquito and then that same mosquito bites someone else, giving the new victim the disease. It has only been recently found that Zika can also be given to someone through the act of sex. While only female mosquitos will bite a person, and therefore are the main problem with the spread of the disease, both female and male humans can pass the disease along to their sex partners.

To be more specific, the virus is thought to be found in semen, blood, saliva, eye fluids and urine. The blood is key when dealing with mosquitos. Below is a photo of an illustration done by the New York Times to show how the virus gets from the infected person, into the mosquito and then into the new victim. Basically, it is through the mosquito's saliva that the virus travels to get from one person to the next.

A photo (by Allison Cook) of the illustration used by the New York Times
to show how the Zika virus is spread by mosquitos. 

Now that a person has the virus, how do they know? Well, according to both the New York Times and WebMD, only 20% (1/5) of victims show symptoms. WebMD reported that if a person were to develop symptoms that they could appear any time between 3 days to two weeks after an infected bite. These symptoms do not last long, only lingering from several days to a week, but it is crucial that the sickly person calls their doctor as soon as symptoms develop. New York Times reported that the best way for the virus to be detected is by a urine or blood sample within the first couple weeks of symptoms showing. 

What are the symptoms? According to the WHO, "symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections," or viruses transmitted by arthropod vectors. These symptoms include fever, joint and muscle pain, rashes, red eyes, and headaches. 

The CDC reported on their website that the symptoms are usually mild enough that people do not get hospitalized, and therefore may not know they are infected. According to WebMD, there is a rare chance that victims can get a disease known as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which causes partial or complete paralysis of the legs for a usually temporary amount of time. While there have only been 13 cases of this link in the US, studies have shown an increasing link between the two diseases. 

The larger concern is the link between Zika and pregnancy. It is thought that the disease can cause fetal microcephaly. Microcephaly is when a baby is born with a smaller than usual head, which most of the time is not an issue to a developing child according to the New York Times. In the cases caused by Zika though, it is a more severe form of microcephaly which may stop the growing of the brain as well as make the brain smoother. There is also a chance that the nerves connecting the brain to the ears and eye could be damaged and the child may suffer from seizures, constantly. It is also noted that microcephaly can be caused by many other infections and may be a result from drug use or alcoholism.

A photo (by Allison Cook) of the CDC's illustration that links to their page
about the potential threats to a pregnant woman's unborn child(ren). 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for microcephaly, but there's hope for those who get Zika. According to the WHO, since the symptoms are very mild there is no specific treatment; just lots of rest, common medicines to treat any pains and drink lots of liquids. It should also be noted that there are no vaccines available at this time. 

Some would say though that the best cure for something is to prevent it from happening. The Who suggests avoiding mosquito bites by wearing clothing that covers your skin and that is lighter colored, wearing bug repellants, keeping physical barriers (such as doors and windows) closed, and sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also advised to practice safer sex or avoid having it at all in regions where the disease can be found or with people who may be infected. The New York Times also advised that women who could have been exposed should take these extra precautions for at least two months and men for at least six months.