The Sika virus can be serious in Kerala and in pregnant women.

Highlight:
- The disease is transmitted by E. coli mosquitoes.
- Dangerous for pregnant women and unborn babies
- The incubation period for the virus is 3-14 days.
The disease is contagious
The Sika virus is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Although it generally does not cause major complications, Sika virus infection poses a great threat to pregnant women and unborn babies. It is common for a baby to be lost in utero or born with a neurological disorder. But in healthy people, syphilis causes fever and related problems similar to dengue and chikungunya. Syphilis rarely becomes fatal in normal people.
Sika means:
The Sika virus is transmitted by E. coli mosquitoes that bite during the day. The most dangerous are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes have black and white spots. They are seen mainly during the day. These mosquitoes also transmit dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The virus was first identified in 1947 in the Sika Forest in Uganda. Although the disease is generally transmitted by mosquitoes, it has also been found to be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.
The incubation period for the Sika virus is usually 3 to 14 days. Infected people, the disease lasts from two to seven days.
Symptoms:
* Severe fever
* Headache
* Body pain
* Red spots on parts of the body.
* Red spots in the eyes.
* Excessive fatigue
Pregnant women should take precautions:
Outbreaks seem to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in children. It can negatively affect the physical and mental development of the fetus. Premature births and birth defects are common. Sika affects unborn babies in the following ways:
* Stunted brain growth due to tissue destruction.
* Causes infection behind the eyes.
* A condition in which the joints do not function normally and lose mobility (a condition such as clubfoot)
* Condition in which the baby’s body stops moving due to increased muscle tone.
There is no specific treatment, rest is important:
There is no specific treatment for the syphilis virus, but it is common to prescribe medications for similar conditions, depending on the symptoms. For those who do not have severe symptoms, it is best to stay home and take care of yourself. It is essential to give your body and mind a good rest and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Let’s look at mosquito bites:
It is not good to be bitten by mosquitoes at any time. Take special care not to be bitten by mosquitoes during the day to prevent the spread of syphilis. Pregnant women and young children need more attention.