Zika: Profile of a mysterious virus

A baby infected with Zika virus

The world’s latest health scare is Zika: a tropical, mosquito-borne virus that holds little danger for most people, but could completely derail the lives of some.

Most often, the virus which is sweeping Latin America causes only mild symptoms – with many people never even realising they have it.

But health officials suspect it may be behind a surge in cases of microcephaly, a condition which causes babies to develop abnormally small brains and skulls — leading to permanent disability or death.

The outbreak has seen some countries urging couples not to get pregnant, while the US Centers for Disease Control has warned pregnant women to avoid travelling to 22 affected nations.

On Tuesday, US health authorities confirmed the virus had been transmitted by sexual contact – by someone infected in Venezuela who came home to a partner in Texas.

Here’s what we know about the virus.

What is Zika?

The virus gets its name comes from a forest in Uganda where it was first discovered in infected rhesus monkeys in 1947. Within years, the virus had spread to humans in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the World Health Organisation.

Like dengue fever and chikungunya, two similar diseases, Zika is transmitted by mosquito species found in tropical and sub-tropical regions: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, or tiger mosquitoes.

How do I know if I have it?

In 70 to 80 per cent of cases, the disease goes unnoticed. The symptoms resemble those of a mild case of the flu – headache, muscle and joint pain, and mild fever – plus a rash.

Symptoms last about two to seven days.

Why are experts worried?

The virus is suspected of causing two serious complications, though it has not been scientifically linked to either: microcephaly in babies, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

A surge in microcephaly and other brain deformities in newborns has been reported in areas hit by the current Zika outbreak, particularly in Brazil.

Microcephaly cases in the South American country surged from 163 live births on average per year, to more than 4,000 in the current outbreak. Forty-nine babies have died.

Many foetuses die in the womb.

Guillain-Barre is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

Most patients recover, but the syndrome can sometimes be deadly. Cases believed to be linked to Zika have been reported in Brazil and French Polynesia.

What to do?

There is no vaccine for Zika, and no treatment – patients can take pain-killers and other medication to relieve the symptoms.

The virus is transmitted mainly through mosquito bites, so killing mosquitoes and avoiding contact with them is key. Health officials recommend covering up, using insect repellant and keeping windows closed or screened.

Authorities have responded to the outbreak by fumigating and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

And officials in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have advised couples not to fall pregnant at this time.

Brazil has announced a crackdown on mosquito breeding grounds ahead of the Olympics, which will bring hundreds of thousands of travellers from around the world to Rio de Janeiro in August.

Where is Zika now?

The virus was first reported in Africa, Asia and the Pacific before leaping to the Americas last year.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito’s habitat, mainly in tropical zones, stretches as far as the southern United States and into southern Europe.

On Monday, the WHO said Zika constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern”.

It is now present in some 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Brazil has been the hardest hit, with almost 1.5 million infections.

Travellers have brought it back to the US states of Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Texas.

In Hawaii, a woman who had contracted Zika in Brazil gave birth to a baby with microcephaly.

Cape Verde, Indonesia, Thailand and islands in the French Caribbean have also reported Zika infections.

AFP

If Your Child Ever Sits in This Position, Stop Them Immediately

Paying attention to how your child or grandchild sits is more important than you may think. It turns out the popular "W" sitting position can be detrimental to a child's development later on in life. Why, you ask?

If Your Child Ever Sits in This Position, Stop Them Immediately

Well, according to the Pediatric Therapy Center, children who continue sitting in this position after their 2^nd birthday may not properly develop the core strength and balance they need for certain motor skills, like jumping and running. It may also leave muscles tight in the legs, hips, and ankles, as well as possibly leading to a hip dislocation.
Yikes.
Not only that, but extensive use of this sitting position could leave your child "pigeon-toed," meaning they walk with their toes turned in. 
To prevent these negative effects from happening, it's important to be vigilant with your child about sitting in safe positions such as cross-legged, side-sitting, or even long-sitting, which puts a child's legs out in front of them.

This is NICE..

For more information, check out the Pediatric Therapy Center's website.

Facebook Photos Reveal the Dangers of Letting People Kiss Your Baby

Claire Henderson, a new mom from Doncaster, England, posted the above shocking photos to Facebook on September 16. With them, she explained how a person with no visible signs of cold sores gave them to her baby Brooke by getting close to her. In babies, that virus can be fatal.

Check her Facebook Post Here

Henderson wrote:

Please share this with every new mum and pregnant woman you know... COLD SORES CAN BE FATAL FOR A BABY. Before 3 months old a baby cannot fight the herpes virus. If a baby contracts this it can cause liver and brain damage and lead to death. I know this sounds like I am scaremongering but if my friend had not told me about this my baby girl could have been very seriously ill. I noticed the signs early and got her to A&E, we have now been in hospital on a drip for 3 days and have got another 2 to go. She was VERY lucky, all her tests came back clear. The moral of the story is DO NOT let anyone kiss your newborn's mouth, even if they don't look like they have a cold sore- 85% of the population carry the virus. And if someone had a cold sore, ask them to stay away until it has gone. Everyone who I have spoken to had not heard of this before and so I felt it was important to share Brooke's story and raise awareness to stop anyone else going through what we have this week.

Please Share with your loved one... Caring is Sharing..

Hit the SHARE button below............

Scientists Develop Super Condoms That Kill HIV Virus and Boosts Sexual Pleasure (Photo)

A team of scientists in America have invented a new type of condom that is capable of killing the HIV virus while enhancing pleasure.

The new hydrogel-based condom

A new hydrogel-based condom that contains antioxidants has been invented by a team of USn-American scientists at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.

It was gathered that not only does it contain plant-based antioxidants, which kills the HIV-virus in case of condom breakage but it also uses antioxidants to enhance pleasure.

Experts say it is the new big player to join the fight against AIDS

"We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection if possible. Supercondom could help fight against HIV infection and may as well prevent unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. If we succeed, it will revolutionize the HIV prevention initiative"

Choudhury, the lead researcher and assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center's Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, said the researchers hope to test the condom within the next six months and then get it released for general usage.