What Do You Know About Zika Virus?

The most common symptoms of the Zika disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), usually lasting from several days to a week, and most patients don't need hospitalisation. However the outbreak in Brazil has led to instances of Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects
How it spreads:

• Through mosquitoes, which mostly spread the virus during the day 
• Through sexual transmission 
• Mosquitoes also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses 
• There is no vaccine 

How to prevent it:

• Avoid getting mosquito bites by using insect repellants, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers 
• Use air conditioning and/or a window screen to keep mosquitoes outside 
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net 
• Reduce the number of mosquitoes by emptying standing water from containers such as flowerpots or bucket 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention