Another viral disease is making the headlines and this time its field of prey is South America. The Zika virus, first discovered in the late 1940s in certain tracts between Africa and Asia, has taken hold in Brazil as well as in other countries in South America and since May last year almost 4,000 newborns in Brazil have reportedly been affected by it (due to their mothers being bitten by the Zika-carrying mosquitos). The babies have microcephaly, a condition in which they are born with unnaturally small heads and underdeveloped brains.
With the spectre of Mers Co-V and Ebola still haunting the world, the prospect of Zika getting a strong foothold is alarming to say the least. The Zika virus, much like dengue and chikungunya, is spread by mosquitoes that thrive in unhygienic places and stagnant water bodies. Though Zika fever is not fatal, the fact that it causes untold damage in pre-natal stages in pregnant women requires this issue to be tackled with multi-dimensional urgency by governments, health authorities and the public.
Some health experts have described the Zika outbreak as a “pandemic in progress” and as yet there is no vaccine to prevent it. Until we learn more about this infection and how to combat it, the only other way is to make people realise the importance of keeping their surroundings hygienic. We must not create conditions that become favourite breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
A simple pledge like this can deliver long-lasting benefits for all.
