Anti-Zika Kit For Mexico's Olympians Due to Zika Fears

Mexican athletes received an anti-Zika kit for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, including mosquito repellent, antibacterial hand gel and condoms.

An anti-Zika kit including mosquito repellent, antibacterial hand gel and condoms was given to Mexican athletes who are at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to the little black bag, two epidemiologists will travel with the Mexican Olympic delegation, which includes 124 athletes, coaches and doctors, the health ministry said Monday.

Zika Fever - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes which causes mild fever with maculopapular rash. No treatment or vaccine is currently available.

‘In order to avoid any infection, deputy health minister, recommended that athletes use the repellent twice a day during the August 5-21 Games.’

The country's football players, who will play in northern Brazil, were vaccinated against yellow fever.

Pablo Kuri, a deputy health minister, recommended that athletes use the repellent twice a day during the August 5-21 Games.

More than 900 Zika cases have been reported in Mexico so far. By contrast, 1.5 million have been infected with the virus in Brazil.

Test Your Knowledge on Zika Virus
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that causes fever, headache, skin rashes, joint and muscle pain in infected individuals. The symptoms usually last for only 2 to 7 days. Fetal symptoms vary and have led to International concern.

While Zika is mainly delivered by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, it has also been shown to transmit through sexual contact.

The virus usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms, but it can also trigger birth defects in babies born to infected mothers. Zika also has been shown able to trigger paralysis/Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

New Diagnostics Needed to Identify Zika-Affected Babies
Some infants with microcephaly may not be diagnosed because they have normal-sized heads instead of small skulls.

Source-AFP

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Zika virus is linked to serious birth defects, including microcephaly, in which babies born to women infected during pregnancy have abnormally small heads.