At present India slowly returns back to a state of normalcy and the implications of the second wave of coronavirus decreased. On Thursday, Kerala reported 13 cases of mosquito-borne viral infection called Zika virus for the first time.

As per the reports, the first case of Zika virus involves a 24-year-old pregnant woman in Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala. Samples from 13 persons are collected, suspected to be positive for Zika virus, have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. 

Zika virus spreads by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The mosquitoes bite both during the day and night. The Aedes mosquito also known as Ae. 

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.

Centre for Disease Control also suggested that people infected with the Zika virus can transmit it to their sex partners.

symptoms of Zika virus are mild. Most common symptoms include fever, rash, headache, red eyes, muscle pain and joint pain.

While the incubation period is said to be between 3–14 days, the symptoms can last for 2–7 days. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals infected with Zika virus do not develop symptoms. The CDC believes that infected people usually don’t get sick enough to be hospitalised and very rarely do they die of Zika.

There is no specific vaccine or medicine for Zika virus, depending on symptoms effected people will be treated with related medication available.

As Zika virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. We should opt clean surroundings, mosquito-ridden areas and avoid mosquito bites using mosquito and insect repellents. Clean the areas that could become a possible hub for mosquito breeding.