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One New Way To Fight Zika Virus
Drug used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective against Zika virus finds study.
Zika virus had created panic in the community quite recently. And the worst part about the disease was that there was no such vaccine or medication to reverse the condition.
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that is transmitted primarily by an infected female (Aedes aegypti) mosquito. This is the same mosquito type that is responsible for the spread of chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.
A new study has found that the drug used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective against Zika virus.
The medication, called chloroquine, has a long history of safe use during pregnancy, and is relatively inexpensive, according to the study.
Zika virus remains a major global health risk. In most adults, Zika causes mild flu-like symptoms. However in pregnant women, the virus can cause serious birth defects in babies - including microcephaly - a neurological condition in which newborns have unusually small heads and fail to develop properly. There is no treatment or way to reverse the condition.
"There is still an urgent need to bolster our preparedness and capacity to respond to the next Zika outbreak," said Alexey Terskikh, from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in the US.
"Our latest research suggests the anti-malaria drug chloroquine may be an effective drug to treat and prevent Zika infections," Terskikh said.
The study examined the effect of chloroquine in human brain organoids and pregnant mice infected with the virus, and found the drug markedly reduced the amount of Zika virus in maternal blood and neural progenitor cells in the fetal brain.
Pregnant mice received chloroquine through drinking water in dosages equivalent to acceptable levels used in humans.
"Chloroquine has a long history of successfully treating malaria, and there are no reports of it causing birth defects," said Terskikh. "Additional studies are certainly needed to determine the precise details of how it works.
But given its low cost, availability and safety history further study in a clinical trial to test its effectiveness against Zika virus in humans is merited," Terskikh added.
The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Listed here are a few of the best ways to prevent zika virus. Take a look.
1.
Use
Mosquito
Repellents:
If
you
feel
that
there
are
mosquitoes
hovering
around
make
sure
to
use
a
good
mosquito
repellent.
This
helps
in
preventing
you
from
mosquito
bite.
There
are
different
types
of
mosquito
repellents
available
in
the
market,
but
herbal
ones
are
always
the
best
and
safe
for
kids
as
well.
2.
Keep
Your
Surroundings
Clean:
Since
mosquito
breeds
in
water,
make
sure
to
keep
your
surroundings
clean
and
avoid
any
water
getting
collected
around
your
house.
If
you
see
any
water
getting
collected
then
make
sure
to
remove
the
water
and
keep
your
surroundings
clean.
This
helps
in
preventing
breeding
of
mosquitoes.
3.
Long
Sleeve
Clothes:
Make
it
a
point
to
wear
long
sleeve
clothes,
especially
during
the
morning
and
the
evenings.
This
helps
in
protecting
yourself
from
mosquito
bite
and
thus
prevent
zika
virus.
(With Agency Inputs)
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