Zika and the Terrible Burden on Kids
The Zika Virus was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda (Africa). The disease became only widely known during the 2014-2016 outbreak in Brazil which left many babies with head and brain deformations (microcephaly). Zika was the first time discovered in Southeast Asia in Malaysia in 1969 and is currently present in all southeast Asian countries.
Zika is not only spread by mosquitoes
The disease is not only transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes of the Aedes species. Above all it can also be transmitted from mothers to unborn children, through blood transfusion and through a variety of sexual behavior.
The problem with Zika is the fact that most people will only experience (very) mild symptoms. Most patients are not even aware that they have been infected and show no symptoms at all.
Those that develop symptoms of Zika will see them in the form of fever, rashes, muscle pains, red eyes and joint pains. Most people will not get sick enough to visit a doctor or hospital and they will start to feel better after about a week.
Zika virus and microcephaly
Being pretty harmless to most of us, the disease is far more dangerous to unborn babies and very young babies. Mothers infected with Zika can experience still-birth, miscarriage and several other birth defects. Babies have a chance of developing microcephaly, a condition whereby the brains don’t develop normally. Microcephaly results in babies being born with (very) small heads. The undeveloped brains are often the course for problems later in life like difficulties in hearing, speaking, movement and balancing, and those effected will have difficulty in learning and leading a normal daily life.
There is currently no cure against Zika. The best way to protect oneself is avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Safe sex is advised for at least half a year for people that have visited areas where Zika is present.