It will amaze Nigerians that the Zika Virus
causing the retarded development of the
brains of new born babies in South
America has been living with us over the
years.
Twenty Five percent of Nigeria’s
population have tested positive to the
dreaded Zika virus currently ravaging the
South American continent, according to the
Daily Sun.The Minister of Health Prof.
Isaac Folorunso Adewole who made the
revelation while defending the 2016 budget
of the Ministry of Health said the virus is
not taken serious because Nigeria is not
interested in it.
He said: “I want to say that Zika has been with
us since 1954. About 25% of Nigerians are positive
to Zika virus but what has happened is that it has
done nothing to us.”
Zika virus according to the Centre for
Disease Control, spread to people through
mosquito bites. The most common
symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever,
rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red
eyes). The illness is usually mild with
symptoms lasting from several days to a
week. Severe disease requiring
hospitalization is uncommon.In May 2015,
the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first
confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil.
The outbreak in Brazil led to reports of
Guillain-Barré syndrome and pregnant
women giving birth to babies with birth
defects and poor pregnancy outcomes.In
response, CDC has issued travel notices for
people traveling to regions and certain
countries where Zika virus transmission is
ongoing.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said
the incubation period (the time from
exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus
disease is not clear, but is likely to be a few
days. The symptoms are similar to other
arbovirus infections such as dengue, and
include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis,
muscle and joint pain, malaise, and
headache. These symptoms are usually mild
and last for 2-7 days.
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