What is Zika Virus? Where did it come from?

Zika virus  (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegyptia and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses.

Zika virus had been known to infect humans from the results of serological surveys in Uganda and Nigeria. A serological survey of 84 people of all ages showed 50 had antibodies, with all above 40 years of age being immune.

It was not until 1954 that the successful isolation of Zika virus from a human was published. This came as part of a 1952 outbreak investigation of jaundice suspected to be yellow fever. It was found in the blood of a 10 year old Nigerian female with low grade fever, headache, and evidence of malaria, but no jaundice, who recovered within three days. Blood was injected into the brain of laboratory mice, followed by up to 15 mice passages. The virus from mouse brains was then tested in neutralization tests using rhesus monkey sera specifically immune to Zika virus. In contrast, no virus was isolated from the blood of two infected adults with fever, jaundice, coughs, diffuse joint pains in one and fever, headache, pain behind the eyes and in the joints. Infection was proven by a rise in Zika virus specific serum antibodies. A 1952 research study conducted in India had shown a "significant number" of Indians tested for Zika had exhibited an immune response to the virus, suggesting it had long been widespread within human populations.

Is  Nepal under the threat of Zika virus?

The United Nations Population Fund said it would closely monitor the Zika virus in countries around the world, including Nepal, and spread awareness about the virus.

“We are closely monitoring the possible spread of the virus particularly from Latin America to other regions,” the UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehim stated.

The UN agency is currently working to warn people about potential effects of Zika virus on the health of women and babies.

With a recent discovery that the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact also, the UNFPA’s role has increased as an agency working on sexual and reproductive health sector, it maintained.

The virus, however, was not found yet in Nepal.

In its statement, the UNFPA said women and girls should be able to make decisions about family planning and to protect their babies and themselves if they decide to become pregnant.

Pregnant women have been advised to seek prenatal care and take extra care in order to avoid exposure to mosquito bites with preventive measures and to avoid any possible mother-to-child transmission.

Women of childbearing age, who want to avoid become pregnant, have been advised to use contraceptives and those who want to become pregnant are asked to get monitored and opt for preventive measures to avoid the virus.

The UNFPA said there is no vaccine or any specific treatment for the Zika virus infection till date.