Читать книгу (101 things to know when you go) ON SAFARI IN AFRICA - Patrick Brakspear - Страница 51

The Zika virus, which came to prominence in an outbreak across South America in 2016, is transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes (the risk of infection from other modes of transmission, beyond mosquito bites, remains unclear). Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947, and is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. The infection, known as Zika fever, often causes no symptoms or only mild symptoms (mild headaches, fever, malaise, conjunctivitis, and joint pains) and if detected, is treated by rest. However, there is the possibility, but currently no scientific evidence, that Zika fever in pregnant women may cause abnormal brain development in their foetuses by mother-to-child transmission, which may result in miscarriage or microcephaly (reduced head size).

Since its original discovery there have only been a handful of confirmed cases of Zika fever across Africa, and as such, the Zika virus is not considered a concern for visitors going on safari.