Bangladesh's tropical environment provides Aedes mosquitoes with ideal hatching grounds, raising the danger of illnesses spread by mosquitoes. For the first time in Bangladesh, five cases were confirmed in patient samples taken in 2023 after ICDDR,B scientists conducted a short, focused search for the presence of the circulating Zika virus. The first time this co-infection has been identified in Bangladesh, one of the five Zika virus patients also had dengue virus.

Two factors likely contribute to the underdiagnosis and underreporting of Zika virus infection: many cases do not cause significant symptoms, with only 20% of infected individuals experiencing a noticeable feverish illness; and when symptoms do occur, they resemble those of dengue and chikungunya. However, when the Zika virus infects pregnant women, it can also result in major fetal issues including microcephaly, which increases the infant's risk of mortality and intellectual handicap. In addition to mosquitoes, it can spread through blood transfusions, sexual contact, mother-to-child perinatal transmission, and secondary non-sexual physical contact.

Primary Treatment: Adequete rest and hydration is of extreme importance to patients who have contracted Zika virus. The secondary treatment involves medication prescribed by healthcare professional, which might include NSAIDS and Antihistamines.

Preventive Measures

Since there’s no cure for Zika yet, prevention is key:

• Mosquito control: Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing, and sleep under mosquito nets to avoid bites.

• Avoiding travel: Pregnant women, in particular, should avoid traveling to areas where Zika virus is actively spreading.

• Mosquito breeding sites: Eliminate standing water around your home, where mosquitoes breed.