Zika Virus

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus. It was first identified in Uganda in 1947. It is a flavivirus. (Flavivirus belong to the family of Flaviviridae. It is a positive strand RNA virus). It was first identified in monkeys.

About Zika Virus

The Zika virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito also spreads yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue. It also spreads through human-to-human transmission. The virus spreads through transfusion of blood, sexual contact, organ transplantation. The Zika virus was declared as Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organisation. There is no approved vaccine for the zika virus. Also, there is no definitive treatment for Zika virus.

Mutations

The virus mutated into two strains. They are the African Strains and the Asian Strains.

Zika Virus infection during pregnancy

The zika virus is capable of transmitting from mother to fetus during pregnancy. The zika virus infection during pregnancy leads to birth defects in new born babies. This condition is called microencephaly. Microencephaly is a condition in which the head of the baby is much smaller than expected. During normal pregnancies, the head of the baby grows as the brain grows. However, in microencephaly, the brain of the baby has not developed or stopped developing during pregnancy.

Spread of the virus

Since 1950s the Zika virus spread was restricted to the equatorial region. However, between 2007 and 2016, the virus spread eastward across the Pacific Ocean.

How does Zika virus attack the host?

The RNA of Zika virus has seven non-structural proteins and three structural proteins. One of the structural proteins encapsulates the virus. This protein binds to the membrane of the host cells.

Zika virus outbreaks

• In 1947, the first Zika virus spread among monkeys in Uganda
• The first human infection was known in 1952 in Uganda. Later, in 1954, scientists discovered the outbreak of the virus in Uganda.
• In 2007, Zika virus outbreak occurred in Yap in Micronesia. This was the first outbreak that occurred outside Asia and Africa.
• In 2013-14, the first Zika virus outbreak occurred in Oceania.
• In 2015, it spread to Americas and Brazil, Caribbean for the first time.

Zika virus in India

In India, Zika virus occurred in the state of Gujarat for the first time. This was in 2017. In July 2021, it was reported in Kerala. Later in October 2021, it was found in Uttar Pradesh.