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Zika fever is a disease caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Symptoms

People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.

Transmission

Zika virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Prevention

Zika virus disease is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Following the microcephaly outbreak in Brazil, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was declared by the World Health Organization in February 2016.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites. The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

See also

• Dengue fever
• Chikungunya
• Yellow fever
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Microcephaly

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