Brazil pledges to fight Zika virus

No Image

GABORONE – The Zika virus disease, relatively unknown throughout the world, was identified for the first time in Brazil in 2015, after the outbreak in French Polynesia in 2014.

Although the virus has been known for some decades, this is a completely new situation in terms of international public health and also for the international scientific community.  Until 2014, there were records of sporadic spread of the Zika virus in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.  According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since last year, in addition to Brazil, 24 other countries and territories of the Americas have been affected by the Zika virus.

The disease caused by this virus (which is transmitted by the same vector that transmits dengue and chikungunya- the Aedes aegypti) was swiftly characterised as an epidemic by the Brazilian public authorities.  There is no scientific proof regarding the transmission of the disease other than by infected mosquito bite.  People who present symptoms most commonly have a fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. In general, these symptoms last for 2-7 days after the contamination.  At the end of 2015, for the first time, the Brazilian authorities proved a possible association between the contamination of women by Zika virus during pregnancy and the birth of babies with microcephaly, a serious congenital condition in which the brain does not develop properly.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up