Question 14 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Current
Affairs

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Both 1 and 2

Strategy: The strategy is to answer the question by recognizing two widely-publicized facts about the Zika virus: its transmission by the Aedes mosquito (shared with Dengue) and its unique capacity for sexual transmission.

Key Info: **Zika Virus Disease (ZVD)**
Zika is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. It was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys. Symptoms are often mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and headache. Many infected individuals are asymptomatic.

**Transmission Modes**
*   **Vector-borne:** The primary mode of transmission is through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti. This species of mosquito is also responsible for transmitting other significant viral diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever. These mosquitoes typically bite during the day, peaking during early morning and late afternoon/evening.
*   **Non-vector-borne:** Zika virus can also be transmitted through non-vector routes. Sexual transmission is a confirmed mode, as the virus can be passed through semen from an infected person to their sexual partners, even if the person is asymptomatic. Other modes include mother-to-fetus (congenital) transmission during pregnancy, and through blood transfusion or organ transplantation.

**Public Health Concern**
A major concern with Zika virus infection is its link to severe birth defects. Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly (a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected) and other congenital abnormalities in the newborn, collectively known as Congenital Zika Syndrome. It is also a trigger for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

**Dengue**
Dengue is another mosquito-borne viral infection found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide. It is transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika. Dengue causes a wide spectrum of illness, from a flu-like sickness to a severe, potentially lethal complication called severe dengue (also known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever).

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements: In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.

Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?