Zika Virus : Mumbai Reported First Case
Mumbai has recently reported the first case of Zika Virus, confirmed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
- Zika Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947.
- It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
- It can also spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
- Many people infected with this virus do not experience any symptoms (asymptomatic).
- When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and red eyes (conjunctivitis).
- Symptoms typically appear two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last several days to a week.
- This virus infection is usually mild, but it can have severe consequences for pregnant women and their babies.
- Infection during pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as microcephaly and other neurological disorders in the baby.
- It has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
