Pune battles Zika outbreak; this is why pregnant women need to be careful and condoms are a must

Zika is a disease that can spread through mosquito bites; it is feared because of the effect it might have in an unborn child should a pregnant mother contract it

Pune has now reported its seventh case of Zika in a 45-year-old woman, sending alarm bells ringing in the Maharashtra city, particularly for pregnant women.

The ministry of health has now issued an advisory to states asking for screening of pregnant women in affected areas for Zika virus infection. The advisory also asked state administrations to monitor the growth of the fetus of expecting mothers who have tested positive for Zika and follow the central government guidelines for subsequent action.

Zika is a disease that can spread through mosquito bites; instances of sexual transmisison have also been reported. But it is feared because of the effect it might have in an unborn child should a pregnant mother contract it. 

Here’s all you need to know about Zika.

How does Zika spread?

Zika is a viral infection that spreads mostly through mosquito bites. However for a limited period of time – that is when the virus is still circulating in body fluids, an infected person can also spread it through unprotected sex. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex and also sharing of sex toys, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The period over which a person is infective can vary with gender but is about three months for men and two months for women. The virus survives longer in semen. Hence it is advisable to use protection when Zika virus is in circulation. And at all other times.

What are the symptoms of Zika?

The common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, headache, body ache and muscle pain. The severity of symptoms though may vary from person to person. Some may only have mild symptoms while others may become very ill. However sometimes a Zika infection may lead to a complicated neurological problem called Guillain Barre’ Syndrome.

How is Zika treated?

There is neither a vaccine nor any specific anti viral for the Zika virus. Treatment is mostly symptomatic such as fever control and pain management. People who have Zika also need to be tested for dengue and Chikungunya as the same mosquito spreads all three diseases. Till dengue is ruled out drugs that can cause bleeding need to be avoided.

What is Congenital Zika Syndrome?

When a pregnant woman contracts Zika, she can pass the disease on to her unborn child. Such a child may be born with congenital defects such as microencephaly (brain smaller than normal), hearing an eye defects and movement problems. All the symptoms together are referred to as Congenital Zika Syndrome. According to the World Health Organisation: “The risk of congenital malformations following infection in pregnancy remains unknown; an estimated 5–15% of infants born to women infected with Zika virus during pregnancy have evidence of Zika-related complications. Congenital malformations occur following both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. Zika infection in pregnancy can also cause complications such as fetal loss, stillbirth and preterm birth.  

(This post has been edited reflect a later development – the government of India advisory on Zika).