Concerns have arisen around the Zika virus in Bangkok recently.
The Zika virus has received a lot of press of late. This is partly due to the Olympic Games which were hosted in Brazil in August of this year where the Zika virus is fairly prevalent and has caused a number of babies to be born with microcephaly – when babies have reduced brain functions and abnormally small heads.
Like dengue fever, Zika is carried by mosquitoes. As Thailand is still in the thick of the rainy season, there are notably more mosquitoes around so it is advised to protect yourself against getting bitten in the same way you would for dengue fever.
The Word Health Organisation predicts that approximately four million people have the Zika virus in the Americas, but the risk in Asia is considered to be fairly low. In fact since 2012 there have only been five cases every year reported in Thailand, however recent reports suggest that 21 cases have emerged in the Sathorn district of Bangkok and the situation is being monitored closely to see if it spreads.
Zika has similar symptoms to dengue fever that include red rash, fever headache, feeling aches and pains, and red eyes. Unlike dengue, the Zika virus is generally healed naturally by people within a week. This explains why there are more concerns relating to dengue fever as it is more serious debilitating viral disease that if left untreated can result in death.
The worries with Zika mainly lies with women in the early stages of pregnancy or couples wanting to get pregnant due to its association with microcephaly. A simple blood test can ascertain if you are a carrier of the Zika for those planning to get pregnant, and those who are pregnant should take extra care to protect themselves against getting bitten.
