This mosquito has been absent from Western Europe for a few decades, although the potential for reintroduction cannot be ruled out. Another vector of the zika virus is the Aedes albopictus mosquito, the famous tiger mosquito, which also reproduces well in our country. For transmission to occur, the mosquito must bite an infected person. Transmission is also likely to occur via blood transfusion.

Zika virus: 5 things to know and how to protect yourself

The Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in some monkeys; however, it only started spreading in epidemic form in 2015 in South America.

The only method currently available to prevent infection is to avoid the bites of vector mosquitoes, which circulate from dawn to dusk, by implementing the common indications for other diseases transmitted by insects. It is also advisable to avoid unprotected sexual relations with people returning from the countries concerned and, for women seeking pregnancy, to postpone travel to countries at risk.

The level of international alarm remains high, especially in view of future tourist flows to South America, both for the summer period and the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In this climate of general uncertainty and fear, at an early stage concerning prospects for immunization, mass prevention, information, and awareness campaigns play a fundamental role and become a powerful weapon in limiting disease outbreaks.

It is an infection caused by a virus discovered in the 1950s in Africa, where numerous outbreaks have been reported. In early February 2016, the Health Organization declared the Zika virus infection a global emergency due to its high potential for spread.

Symptoms are similar to dengue and chikungunya, other diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, although milder: low-grade fever, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, conjunctivitis. A Zika virus infection could go unnoticed or be attributed to one of the other viruses.

Recent outbreaks of Zika virus fever outside Asia and Africa, epidemics in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, and its developing presence in the Americas show that this virus has the potential to spread to areas where mosquitoes are present. Zika virus vaccine research is still in process.

The disease caused by the Zika virus often has no symptoms or manifests itself with rather modest symptoms, not sufficient to require a medical check-up. When Zika virus symptoms are present, they appear from a few days to a week after contracting the infection and include:

Pregnant women should also report this circumstance during antenatal visits. Diagnosis of the disease is based on symptoms and, at least currently, on knowledge of a visit to places where the disease is endemic in the two weeks preceding the disease. 

Treatment of symptoms requires the use of acetaminophen against fever and pain.  It is good to drink fluids and rest until the symptoms resolve. During about a week, the virus is found in the patient’s blood, and during this time, the disease can be transmitted.

People affected by the disease may present with fever, rash, muscle and joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Symptoms last a few days, at most a week, and are not particularly significant in intensity.

Simultaneously with the Zika virus epidemic in Brazil, there has been an increase in children born with microcephaly: the suspicion is that contracting the disease during pregnancy can compromise the fetus’s health. Children with microcephaly have a smaller head than normal, with possible brain development abnormalities.

A vaccine against the Zika virus is currently not available. It is good to implement standard precautionary measures against insect bites. Particular attention must be paid to pregnant women who are not advised to travel to countries already affected or considered at risk.

The Zika virus epidemic is limited to the presence of the specific vector of the virus, the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. If there are no mosquitoes where the virus completes part of its life cycle, it is unlikely to think of its spread.

A higher risk of miscarriage exists for pregnant women who contract the Zika virus. Microcephaly, a potentially deadly brain disorder, is one of the significant congenital disabilities that are made more likely by zika virus infection during pregnancy. Vaccine development for the Zika virus is ongoing. Avoiding mosquito bites and minimising mosquito habitats are the best ways to prevent illness.

After being bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms normally begin two to fourteen days later. After experiencing symptoms for about a week, most people fully recover. Zika virus symptoms most frequently include:

Other warning signs and symptoms may include Muscle pain; headache, eye pain; exhaustion or a general unease; and abdominal pain.

If you believe you or a member of your family may be infected with the Zika virus, especially if you have recently returned from a location with an active outbreak, consult a doctor immediately. Blood tests are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to check for the Zika virus and other diseases that are spread by mosquitoes. Ask your doctor if you should get tested if you are pregnant and have recently visited a region where the Zika virus is prevalent, even if you don't have any symptoms.

A vaccine cannot protect against the Zika virus. However, you can take precautions to lower your chance of contracting the virus. These recommendations help you to know How Zika Was Cured