Top 9 FAQs For Zika Virus
Zika virus is not harmful in most cases. However, Zika virus can be harmful for pregnant women.
Table of Contents
So what?s the big deal?
Brazil declared an emergency in 2015 as the Zika virus was believed to cause brain damage to 2,400 babies. The birth defect is known as microcephaly and prior to the outbreak of Zika virus, the country only saw 147 cases.
What?s the big deal about microcephaly??
A generation of babies born with this disease will require special attention to their entire lives.
Why should we be worried?
It?s spread by Aedes mosquitoes also known as the dengue mosquito. If you haven?t realized, there are tonnes of them here in Southeast Asia too. Dengue cases have jumped up from about 40,000 cases a year in 2013 to about 115,000 a year in 2014 and 2015. That?s about a 300% increase! That should give you an idea of how many Aedes mosquitoes are there out there.
Is there a vaccine for the Zika virus??
No, there isn?t one yet.
Is there treatment for Zika?
If you?re pregnant and are infected with the virus, there is nothing that can reverse the birth defect. This is why many countries have been issuing travel advice for pregnant women visiting affected countries.
There is NO DIRECT treatment to treat this virus at the moment, so you just have to rough it out and drink plenty of water/fluids and paracetamol to relieve the symptoms.
How to get diagnosed?
A blood test.
What are the symptoms to look out for the Zika virus?
Symptoms are pretty generic and similar to flu-like:
- Fever
- Joint pains
- Headache
- Rash
- Muscle pain
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
So how do we stay protected?
Here?s our recommendation for staying protected!
Use insect repellent?
Repellents should be applied before you apply sunscreen.
Mosi-Guard 75ml Spray RM34.50 from Lazada.
Install mesh
This particular one that we found seems easy to install.
Magic Mesh RM24.74 from Lazada.
Sleep in one of these
Wake up feeling like a princess.
Mosquito net RM32 from Lazada.
Kill them!?
Destroy them.
Electric Mosquito Killer Lamp RM60 from Lazada.
Kill them again!?
Mosquito Zapper Swatter Killer Racket RM28 from Lazada.
Cover yourself up!?
With a onesie
Royal Purple Spyro Dragon Costume RM118.30 from Lazada.
