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Zika virus disease

Zika virus infection is caused by Zika virus which was first isolated in Zika forest of Uganda in 1947 in Rhesus monkey. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, the infamous mosquito, which also transmits infections like Dengue and Chikungunya. Although Zika virus infection has not been reported in India so far, but given the widespread presence of Aedes mosquito in India along with a huge volume of international travel, the Zika virus infection does have the potential of further spread. Although Zika virus infection is asymptomatic in 80% cases but its association with microcephaly and Gullian Barre syndrome has created a sort of panic in people residing in South American continent. On 1st February World Health Organization declared Zika virus infection to be a public health emergency of international concern.