Zika virus: your questions answered

"Three Britons have contracted Zika virus – which may cause severe birth defects – after travelling to South and Central America," BBC News reports. So what is the Zika virus and what steps can you take to protect yourself? Answers below.  What is the Zika virus? The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne infection, which isn't harmful in most cases. However, it may be harmful for pregnancies, as it's been linked to birth defects – specifically, abnormally small heads (microcephaly). It was first detected in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947, but is now thought to have spread through most of South and Central America, and the Caribbean. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the infection is likely to spread through the warmer regions of North America in the future.   What symptoms does the virus cause? Many people don't have any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and last around two to seven days. Commonly reported symptoms include: a low-grade fever joint pain (with possible swelling, mainly in the smaller joints of the hands and feet) rash conjunctivitis (red eyes) headache muscle pain eye pain   How is the Zika virus diagnosed and treated? The Zika virus can be diagnosed with a blood test. There is no direct treatment for the symptoms of the Zika virus. Drinking plenty of water and taking paracetamol may help relieve symptoms. The use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Pregnancy/child QA articles Source Type: news