The Health Ministry has called upon all passengers traveling to countries that have been inflicted by Zika virus to take necessary precautions. The mosquito-borne virus has already hit 26 countries in the Americas excluding the US and Canada. Among the countries hit by the virus are Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Surinam, El Salvador, Venezuela, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saint Martin, Guyana, Haiti and Bolivia. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rashes, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week. "The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week," the ministry said. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon while deaths are rare. "At present Zika has no specific treatment or vaccination," the ministry pointed out. People affected by the virus should take rest for a long time like patients hit by Dengue fever, and drink a lot of water. They should treat fever and pain using available medicine, the ministry said. The ministry cautioned people traveling to the Zika-hit countries to take protections against mosquito bites, especially in the early morning and evening hours when mosquitoes will be very active. They may wear clothes with long sleeves and apply creams that drive away mosquitoes. "Travelers suffering from fever like Dengue or Zika within three weeks after returning from their journey to the affected regions should inform healthcare providers," the ministry said. "Pregnant women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating should consult a healthcare provider before traveling and upon return," the ministry said. Women who believe they have been exposed to Zika virus should consult with their healthcare provider for close monitoring of their pregnancy. Since Brazil reported the first cases of local transmission of the virus in May 2015, it has spread to 26 countries and territories in the Americas, the World Health Organization said.
