GS Mains Model Question & Answer: Zika infection has trans-national dimensions which causes complications in infants
Q. Zika infection has trans-national dimensions which causes complications in infants . (12.5 Marks)
(General Studies Mains Paper III- Science and Technology : Effects in everyday life)
Model Answer :
Zika Infection :
Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. Also, a fifth of affected babies might appear normal but actually had brain abnormalities; infection in newborns could also lead to brain damage.
Microcephaly:
Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly - a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized - as well as other brain abnormalities. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly. In adults, Zika infections have also been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre, as well as other neurological disorders.