A recent study conducted by a group of researchers from medical branch for the University of Texas in Galveston has revealed that Zika virus can be transmitted to the eggs and offspring of mosquitoes.
The research group has made their findings public through an announcement on Monday, Aug. 29. According to their study report, killing of adult mosquitoes is not enough in combating the spread of Zika virus.
The transmittal phenomenon is also applicable for the dengue virus, a kith and kin of the Zika virus. Spray of insecticides usually affects adults leaving eggs, larvae and other immature forms of the mosquitoes unharmed. Thus spraying insecticides remains effective in reducing transmission instead of eliminating the virus. The findings have made controlling Zika really difficult, opines NBC News quoting Dr. Robert Tesh, a co-author of the study.
The researchers in a laboratory have injected Zika virus to the female mosquitoes in a view to detect transmission following previously confirmed instances for dengue or yellow fever. The incubated eggs and hatched larvae have been tested. France 24 confirms transmission of Zika virus in one subject out of every 290.
Though the observed transmission ratio is very low, but researchers predict a higher ratio for Aedes aegypti in case of tropical urban community. Thus chances for persisting Zika virus becomes higher enough despite killing adult mosquitoes.
During the recent days, Zika outbreak has been reported across Latin America and the Caribbean. Outbreak to a limited extent has been witnessed in Florida and experts fear for further explosive spreading. The virus may cause birth defects to unborn babies and is also responsible for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a sort of paralyzing condition.
No drug or vaccine has been made available till now in treating or preventing the disease. Killing Aedes mosquitoes is the best possible mean in controlling spread of the disease; suggest The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Following previously found instances of transmission in case of dengue and yellow fever viruses, a group of researchers have injected Zika virus to adult Aedes mosquitoes. Upon diagnosis, the study group has found transmission of the virus to the immature mosquito forms. Though the transmission rate is negligible, but the findings have made Zika controlling difficult due to transmission capability of the virus.