The World Health Organisation in its latest report has confirmed that three Indians, all based out of Ahmedabad, have been infected with the Zika virus.
The virus had made global headlines six months right before the Rio Olympics witn Brazil thought to be the epi-centre of the disease outbreak.
However, this is not the first case of Zika in India.
According to a report, the virus was found in Pune 64 years ago during a survey that was testing immunity to Japanese and Russian varieties of a virus-borne brain infection called encephalitis.
But It did not grab the world’s attention then.
In fact, it was in 2007 when for the first time since 1947 (when the first human infection was detected) that the virus became part of the global conversation.
The virus induces symptoms like body ache and fever or often comes without symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.
Although, only three cases have been reported so far, Indian conditions are favourable for the outbreak of the disease.
Here are five essential reads:
This interactive report by Donald G Mcneil Jr, Catherine Saint Louis and Nicholas St Fleur in The New York Times answers all your queries about how the virus gets transmitted and how in most cases do not have symptoms. It also discusses how and where the disease might spread. Between 2007 and 2014, the virus had caused havoc in Micronesia, French Polynesia, and Easter Island-South Pacific.
The report Jayne Lucke in The Conversation emphasises about how primarily the mosquito-borne disease can also be sexually transmitted. The article discusses the impact of Zika on sexual and reproductive health and advocates safe practices to avoid the disease.
This multimedia story by The Washington Post asks for the reader to give their location and assesses the reader’s knowledge about the disease. In the process, it also advises the readers to take precautions and explains how the disease spreads.
Jennifer Kelly Geddes of Parents.com gives a 101 on Zika virus and how it affects pregnancy. It also talks about precautions and steps taken to reduce the chances of getting infected. It also talks about drugs that can potentially help prevent infection.
This report in The Conversation by Michael Selgelid and Euzebiusz Jamrozik talks about how there is a dearth of scientific study linking Zika with microcephaly. It argued