![]() An increasing number of outbreaks of Zika virus infections have been seen in the Americas since 2015.The authors of a new commentary published in JAMA Neurology reviewed what is known about the Zika virus, ways in which the Zika virus infection may affect the development of brain cells, and what has been seen so far. ![]() Microcephaly is one of these brain development problems and has been associated with exposure to the Zika virus while the mother is pregnant. Problems with brain development have been recognized as a possible cause of seizures/epilepsy for many years. If the brain is not growing normally, then the head does not enlarge normally resulting in microcephaly. As the brain grows, we know the head grows. It is not surprising that along with microcephaly, the outward manifestation of the virus, brain development is adversely affected. The impact on the development of infants exposed to the virus has been a concern for some time now. Since the Zika virus (ZIKV) was first detected, many people have been concerned about long-term effects on exposed babies. Enhanced Epilepsy Surveillance and Awareness in the Age of Zika. Most mosquitoes will stay close to the same dwelling they were born in, flying an average of 400 meters in their lifetime.Pastula DM, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Kobau R. Females will look for humans to bite and reproduce. Male mosquitoes only eat plant nectar and look for females. The entire lifecycle can be completed in 8 days, but it may take up to 3 weeks. After around 4 days, it develops further into a pupa, which is like a caterpillar’s cocoon.Īfter 2 days, an adult mosquito emerges from the pupa and flies off. The larva swims around the container with a distinctive wiggling motion and feeds on microorganisms. When there is water in the container, the egg will hatch into a larva in about 2 to 4 days. She may lay 100 eggs at a time.Ī mosquito egg can survive in dry conditions for several months. The female lays her eggs in the water, attached to the sides of the container. She prefers small manmade containers in and around homes, including potted plants, blocked drains or roof gutters, roadside ditches, discarded receptacles, and tarps. Human blood contains materials the female needs to produce eggs.Īfter feeding on one or more humans, the female looks for a stagnant pool of water. In order to reproduce, a female mosquito must mate with a male and take a blood meal from a human. However, in the case of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas these other modes of transmission are comparatively rare. The virus may sometimes spread from person to person through sex, from a female mosquito to her eggs, or between mosquitoes and some primates. One mosquito may bite and infect several people. This infectious period lasts up to 7 days and may be accompanied by symptoms of the disease. The incubation time in humans is a few days to a week, after which the person can pass the virus to another mosquito. When the infected mosquito bites another human, the virus goes from the mosquito’s saliva into the new person’s blood, infecting them. The virus makes its way into the mosquito’s saliva over the course of 8 to 12 days. The mosquito becomes infected with the virus through the blood it drinks. The Zika virus is primarily transmitted from human to mosquito to human.Ī person infected by the virus is bitten by a mosquito. Supportive care will lead to recovery for most patients, even severe cases, though sometimes with continuing weakness. Symptoms last up to 3 weeks in most cases, and are most severe in the second week. Severe cases require hospitalization and can be life threatening. ![]() Symptoms will develop a few days or weeks after recovering from Zika and include weakness and a tingling situation which may increase to the point of near total paralysis. It is thought that this can be a cause of microcephaly.Ī possible rare side effect of Zika virus disease is Guillain-Barré syndrome, an auto-immune disorder which affects the nervous system. ![]() Women infected during pregnancy may pass the virus to their developing child. Side effect of zika virus skin#Symptoms last a few days to a week and include mild fever, skin rashes, red eyes, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache. Only 20 percent of people infected with the virus will experience any symptoms. ![]()
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