Zika Virus: An Explosion in World

Abstract

Zika virus is a flavivirus, in the family Flaviviridae. Although Zika virus was
isolated on several occasions fromAedes africanus mosquitoes after its
discovery in 1947, there initially was no indication that the virus caused human
disease. Nevertheless, a serosurvey involving residents of multiple areas of
Uganda revealed a 6.1% seroprevalence of antibodies against Zika virus, which
suggested that human infection was frequent.Additional serosurveys indicated a
much broader geographic distribution of human infection, including Egypt,East
Africa, Nigeria, India ,Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines,and Malaysia (near
Kuala Lumpur and in East Malaysia [Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan].
Zika needs a vector (a means of transportation) to infect people; generally, that
vector is the mosquito. However, Zika virus has been found in semen and
person-to-person sexual transmission has been documented.
Despite no incident of Zika virus infection reported in India so far, health experts in the country have sounded an
alarm over the potential spread of the hazardous virus in Western Ghat and coastal areas in the coming days, unless
and until the authorities take appropriate action to stop the menace. WHO also said the virus could affect 4 million
people worldwide. Aedes mosquitoes, which spread Dengue virus, are also the carriers of Zika virus. As India has
many unclean cities and urban enclaves, the virus could hit the country quicker, health experts warn. To date, no
vaccine or specific therapy has been developed for Zika virus infection. Consequently, treatment is aimed at
relieving symptoms if they occur. Many herbal medicines are used for zika virus,kwatha decoction,golden milk and
madhuparni,tinospora and eupatorium