Shaurya... the courage: March 2018

Zika Virus disease is a mosquito-borne viral infection that primarily occurs in tropical and subtropical areas.The rising number of these diseases can be attributed to many factors. This virus is transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. The symptoms includes mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, headache, muscle and joint pain etc. Dengue and Chikungunya also spread through the same mosquitoes that transfer Zika.

Prevention is the key for Zika Virus. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika Virus yet. Protect yourself from mosquito bites to protect yourself from Zika Virus mosquitoes. Battling the disease with the right products, such as that of Goodknight, would help in preventing and ensuring that your family’s health is safe and sound.

Zika Virus: Symptoms, Facts And Prevention

A lot of people wonder what exactly this virus is, and whether it is like other diseases that are spread by mosquitoes namely, chikungunya, malaria, dengue etc. All these mosquito-borne diseases cause similar symptoms, which can range in their severity and can last for more than a week. So what is different with Zika? Zika virus can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact and from an infected mother to her unborn child during pregnancy. The virus can be found in urine, semen, blood, saliva, and the eye fluids of an infected person and can easily be transmitted through any of these fluids. Also unlike the other mosquito-borne diseases, once a person has been infected with Zika, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

While the professionals do the work of finding an effective vaccine for the Zika virus, we should focus on protecting ourselves from getting infected. All protective measures start with protecting yourself against the disease-causing mosquitoes.

Pregnant women need to be extra careful, and should get the Zika tests done without fail if they experience any of the above symptoms.

Impact of the Zika Virus

Zika virus can lead to birth defects such as microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is abnormally smaller than normal babies. The infected baby might not last the full term of pregnancy; it can induce miscarriage or still birth.

Babies born infected with Zika can have a range of health problems like developmental delay, intellectual disability, hearing loss, seizures, vision and feeding problems. These problems can range from mild to severe and are often lifelong; they can even be life-threatening in some cases.

In adults, The Zika virus has been found to affect the immune system. It has also been linked with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition where the healthy nerve cells are attacked by the immune system. Zika virus, in some cases, can also impact the brain of a patient, leading to swelling and other neurological dysfunctions.

Zika Virus in India

In India, the detection of the Zika virus is done through random sampling exercises, which are undertaken by the department of health. A large-scale anti-mosquito drive has been launched in order to reduce the population of these vectors, and to control the spread of Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria and Zika.

Treatment

There is no vaccine or actual treatment for Zika, but most people with symptoms do well with over-the-counter medications for aches and pains. The disease usually runs its course within a week or so.

The CDC in America recommends infected people get plenty of rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, and take acetaminophen for fever and pain. Aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should not be taken until dengue is ruled out, to reduce bleeding risk, the agency says.

There is no vaccine against Zika, but the National Institutes of Health, USA, is testing one in humans.

Prevention

Protection against mosquito bites is a key measure to prevent Zika virus infection. This can be done by wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as window screens or closing doors and windows; sleeping under mosquito nets; and using insect repellent containing DEET, IR3535 or icaridin according to the product label instructions. Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly. Travellers and those living in affected areas should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

You can follow these tips to protect yourself from the Zika virus:

Goodknight Activ+ System

Ensure there are no mosquitoes breeding in and around your house. Since the Aedes mosquito breeds in fresh water, make sure to throw out the water collected in plants, unused bottles, buckets, birdbaths, etc. Use Goodknight Activ+ System to keep your house free of mosquitoes.

Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home. Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Use air conditioning when available. Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.

Goodknight Power Shots

Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, especially when you step outside. Use personal mosquito repellents like Goodknight Fabric Roll-On, Patches and Cool Gel before you head out. These are 100% natural and provide 8-hours of protection.