Biologist Danielle Varjal demonstrates her research with Aedes aegypti mosquitos in a lab at the Fiocruz institute on January 26, 2016 in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil.
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Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff has announced a nationwide attack on the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, vowing to “win this war” against the insect that researchers have linked to a rare birth defect.
Public health officials said that the best way to protect yourself is to avoid mosquito bites, so to use mosquito repellent, wear long clothing and ensure that the nets are installed at the gates and windows.
“Exactly the same mosquito that spreads dengue fever in Far North Queensland is the species that’s spreading Zika virus”.
The World Health Organisation has said as many as 4 million people in the Americas may become infected. The more serious ramifications are for infants: Birth defects have been reported in children born to women exposed to the virus. Symptoms, if they occur, last for two to seven days.
Colombia has said it had about 16,500 suspected cases of Zika, though only a small fraction have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
To prevent the Zika virus from spreading in the country, tourists from South America and Central America, as well as Malaysians returning from there should report to the health quarantine centre or health office upon arrival. There is now no cure for Zika virus. Many women, especially those living far away from large cities, find it hard to find legal abortion providers.
Cambodia’s only Zika case recovered in 2010 after treatment.
Zika symptoms are mild, causing a low fever, joint pain, headaches, a rash and conjunctivitis.
For now, there is no vaccine against the virus Zika.
Zika outbreaks have been reported in several Latin American and Caribbean countries, raising concerns elsewhere about travelers becoming infected.
In a breakthrough in medicine, it is said that a vaccine of Zika virus is being developed and is likely to be launched by the end of this year.
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In Brazil, the Zika virus has been linked to cases of microcephaly, or abnormally small heads in newborns.
