Zika virus, two words

Dear friends,




It is emergency for what concerns the case of Zika virus .

This virus has been told everything.

Now, it should not be underestimated, but one should not even envisage apocalyptic scenarios.
This virus is very present in the tropical areas of Africa and South America, and the country most affected by it Brazil.
It is a virus with a single RNA+ molecule belonging to the family of Flaviviridae, the same as the yellow fever virus. For this reason, the virus is changing.
The virus was discovered in a monkey in Uganda in 1947.
Its name comes from the forest in which it was discovered, the forest Zika.
This virus is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which we Italians know as "tiger mosquito".
So, to transmit this virus usually you need a carrier, the mosquito, although there are cases in which it was transmitted sexually or through blood products.
It causes an illness with fever and rash.
The symptoms resemble those of the flu.
As a rule, the disease is benign but can sometimes bring complications.
The virus is neurotropic. It tends to infect nerve cells.
Complications can affect pregnant women.
In fact, the virus can damage the fetal brain, causing a malformation called microcephaly.
In adults, it can lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a syndrome that starts with paralysis of the lower limbs and that goes on until the arms and that if not treated properly can lead to death.
There is no vaccine (because the virus is changing) or cure for this virus.
The only treatment is rest and the intake of fluids, analgesics and antipyretics.
Logically, when travel in countries where the virus is present, the person should a control once they are back at home and have symptoms such as fever and rash.
So, you do not announce anything about doomsday scenarios but at the same time do not underestimate the issue.

Sincerely.