Zika Virus
Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 in the Ziika Forest of Uganda. Since then, it had best known to occur within a narrow belt from Africa to Asia. But from 2007 to 2016, the virus was spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily through Aedes mosquitos. But it can also be spread from a pregnant woman to her baby, through sexual transmission and through blood transfusion. The virus causes either no or mild symptoms. There are no specific treatments, but paracetamol and rest can help with the symptoms. As of 2016, there is no medication or vaccine that can prevent Zika. Zika belongs to a family of viruses called flaviviruses. This family includes dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Usually, only mature forms of these flaviviruses are considered infectious, but the virus population secreted from host cells is a mixture of mature, partially mature, and immature particles. A...