First case of Zika virus detected in Myanmar.
Q. The first case of the Zika virus was detected in which SE Asian country in Oct 2016?- Published on 01 Nov 16a. Bhutan
b. Myanmar
c. Bangladesh
d. Pakistan
ANSWER: Myanmar
The first case of the mosquito borne virus in the SE Asian country, state owned Myanmar, a pregnant woman in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon has been diagnosed with Zika.
- The WHO has warned that Zika was likely to spread throughout Asia after being detected in 70 countries including at least 19 in the Asia Pacific region.
- Zika has spread to over 60 nations and territories since the present outbreak was identified in the previous year in Brazil, raising alarm over rare birth defects microcephaly and other neurological disorders that can be caused in infants and adults.
- This is the first Zika case confirmed in Myanmar.
- Two Myanmar students were identified with the virus in Sept 2016.
- Brazil has been hardest hit with 1900 cases of microcephaly, a condition associated with small heads leading to developmental problems.
- Singapore and Thailand are the most affected nations of SE Asia.
- There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection.
- Companies and scientists are racing to develop vaccines that are safe and effective for Zika.
