Zika infection symptoms generally occur with 2 weeks after mosquito bite

Zika infection symptoms generally occur with 2 weeks after mosquito bite. January. 30, 2016 07:58. by 이정은 기자lightee@donga.com.

As zike virus, which is known to be linked with microcephaly in newborn babies, is widely spreading overseas, anxiety and curiosity is mounting among the public in Korea as well. There are no cases of infection in Korea, but as Zika infections have been reportedly in succession Southeast Asia and elsewhere, pregnant women need to take extra caution. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publicized information on the virus in a Questions and Answers format on its website (www.cdc.go.kr) on Friday.

According to the information, when a person gets infected with a Zika virus-carrying mosquito, he or she could develop fever, rash, eye redness usually in two to seven days, or up to two weeks. It is completely groundless that the disease could develop even two years later. Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits this virus, has not been found in Korea. There is a chance that Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Korea could potentially transmit the virus but there is no confirmed case yet.

Experts say the Zika virus is transmitted to people through physical contact or through the air, and it can infect a person through blood transfusion or sexually, but such modes of transmission are not common. As blood donation is allowed only one month after the donor’s overseas trip in Korea, chances are low that the virus infects a person through blood transfusion.

Thailand, Samoa, and Cape Verde in Africa and 22 nations in central and south America have had Zika outbreaks over the past two months. Even if people have returned from a trip to these regions, they don’t need to get diagnosis if there are no symptoms. However, if any symptoms happen within two weeks after travel, checkup at a medical institution is necessary. The Zika virus, which became known in the 1950s, is said to be associated with microcephaly in newborns through pregnant women, but there are no vaccines or effective treatment for the virus, which elevate the sense of fear.