If you have been following the news, details about the Zika virus seems to be recurring at every hour on various news channels. In addition to the Lassa fever updates, the reports about the Zika Virus are also spreading like wild fire. What is this Zika Virus anyway? It is a virus that is spread to people through mosquito bites. In addition to malaria and dengue, certain mosquitoes now carry a virus that causes symptoms that may be considered mild. This is due to the fact that hospitalization from Zika because of the severity of the symptoms have been uncommon so far. The most prevalent symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, pains in the joints, conjunctivitis and rashes.

The symptoms usually appear mild and last from several days to about a week. We have listed 10 facts about the Zika Virus that you should be aware of.

10 things to know about the Zika Virus

1. 1 in 5 people who are infected with the Zika Virus actually become sick.
2. The Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. This mosquito is also responsible for diseases like chikungunya and dengue
3. The disease is not fatal but poses a risk to pregnant women’s fetuses. It also affects anyone living in the area that has not been exposed to the virus before.
4. No vaccine or medications are available yet to prevent or treat the Zika disease.
5. The Zika virus has not been confirmed that it can be passed directly from person to person through fluids. So far it can only be transmitted through the mosquito that carries it.
6. May 2015 in Brazil confirmed reports of the virus transmission in the northeast part of the country.
7. The Zika virus symptoms usually begin between 2 to 7 days after being bitten by the infected mosquito.
8. As a great measure to protect yourself, avoid traveling to countries that the outbreak has been reported. If you have to, use repellants and avoid areas and times where mosquitoes may roam.
9. The virus is linked to Microcephaly in infants which means infants are born with smaller heads. This means there is a high possibility that their brain development would be stunted.
10. A Vaccine is currently being developed to curb the spread of this disease.

It is important to stay informed about these diseases and when vaccines are developed. It is also important for pharmaceutical companies that would produce the vaccines to protect these products from counterfeiting. No matter how well intentioned pharmaceutical companies are, they must be aware that counterfeiters always look for creative ways to boost their own bottom line. If you are a pharmaceutical company that would need protection of your products when the vaccines are developed, Sproxil will always be here to help secure your products throughout the supply chain from the factory to the consumer.

P:S

Sexual transmission of Zika Virus has been confirmed