In the first case of Zika virus in Kerala, a 24-year-old pregnant woman has been diagnosed with the mosquito-transmitted disease, State Health Minister Veena George said on July 8. There are 13 other suspected cases of the virus from Thiruvananthapuram, the minister told PTI. She added that the government was awaiting confirmation from the National Institute Of Virology (NIV) at Pune. Of the 19 samples sent from Thiruvananthapuram, 13 health workers, including doctors, are suspected to be positive for Zika, the minister said. Symptoms for the mosquito-borne disease include mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Incubation period of Zika virus disease is estimated to be 3–14 days and the symptoms typically last for 2–7 days. Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the Zika virus and the development of the Zika vaccine remains an active area of research. The UN health agency advises people with symptoms to get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and “treat pain and fever with common medicines.” Zika virus infection can only be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites.
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