Zika is the name given to a new arbovirus that is attacking a significant percentage of the inhabitants of the African region; This virus is transmitted thanks to the intervention of arthropods (or vectors), specifically by a class of mosquito known as Aedes Aegypti (same vector of the dengue virus), this virus belongs to the genus Flavivirus from the Flaviviridae family. Its discovery dates back to the time of 1947, it was isolated mainly in monkeys belonging to the Zika region in Africa; a study that was adequate in the search for the etiology of yellow fever; After 20 years of isolation, the virus went from monkeys to humans, being mainly affected by the inhabitants of Nigeria, spreading throughout Africa, then Asia, until reaching Oceania.
Its symptoms are similar to dengue and chikungunya, where the infected patient has maculo-papular rosettes or small spots, both reddish without sensation of itching or urticaria (similar to measles), in turn there is arthralgia (joint pain), severe headache (headache), myalgia (muscle pain), low back pain (pain in the lower back), ocular hyperemia (red eyes) without conjunctival discharge or itching, accompanied by hyperthermia (fever), swelling of the hands and feet, edema (accumulation of fluid) in the lower limbs, asthenia (weakness), lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, nausea and vomiting).
Its mode of transmission is through the bite of the Aegypti infected with the virus, this has an incubation period of approximately 7 days, that is, after a week of the bite of the infected vector, the symptoms of the virus will begin to be appreciated. disease previously exposed. For the prevention of the virus the same methods are applied to prevent dengueor chikungunya, which are reduced to the use of different methods that scare away the vectors involved: bed nets, insecticide sprays, use of repellent, use of clothing that meets good skin coverage, reduction of mosquito breeding sites such as water containers, vases, bottles, puddles, rubbers with water, among others, in turn it is recommended not to maintain contact or stay in the same room as the patient.
