If you have planned to take a vacation or business trip to Brazil or another country in South America, you may need to reconsider it.
The simple reason is that the Zika
virus, which has led to over 500 babies being born with neurological
deformities, has spread to 25 countries on the continent.
The virus is getting global attention at
present because of its alarming connection with Microcephaly — a
neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally
small heads.
Symptoms
The good news is that most people who
have the Zika virus will not come down with fever. The WHO estimates
that only one out of five infected persons will fall ill.
Treatment
There is currently no vaccine or
medication to prevent or treat Zika infections. Doctors recommend that
anyone with symptoms of fever should take medicines, such as
acetaminophen or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain and visit the
nearest hospital.
The best treatment for now is prevention.
Prevention
Although no case of Zika infection has
been recorded in Nigeria, experts say that one can take certain
precautions to reduce one’s vulnerability to the disease.
If you do not sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, please
get one today. Do all you can to keep mosquitoes off your home.
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