It is common knowledge that Zika is transmitted from one person to another by mosquito bites. Recent findings indicate that it can also be transmitted to a person with an open cut or by being pricked by a needle contaminated by virus.
In other words, Zika is no longer solely transmitted through mosquitoes but also through other means. Previous studies also indicate that it can also be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.
Pregnant women infected with the virus can pass the virus to the unborn child resulting to microcephaly and brain defects when the baby is born. Some infected persons also manifest the Guillan-Barre syndrome, a debilitating disease that destroys nerve cell and weakens muscles, leading to paralysis.
The latest mode of transmission came from a The Science Explorer by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). At present, there are still no reported cases of persons infected by the virus through the environment but a laboratory controlled has proven that the mode of infection is possible.
The lead researcher of the study, Dr, Steve Zhou said "Zika can survive on hard, non-porous surfaces for as long as eight hours, possibly longer when the environment contains blood, which is more likely to occur in the real world." The study was scheduled to be presented at the AAPS.
The information is important to health providers since caution must be exercised when dealing with people infected with Zika since the blood carrying the virus can infect other people. While disinfectants like alcohol, acids, bleach and ammonia can kill the virus in 12 seconds, the virus in the blood can stay infective for longer periods. Precautionary measures must be followed when handling blood containing the virus.
As previusly reported by Job & Hire, the scientific world is closely watching the developments of studies about the Zika virus because it is a menace to society. Genetically modified mosquito strains have been developed to breed with current Zika-carrying mosquitoes and biologically terminate them.
