Dhaka: A Zika virus cluster has been identified in Bangladesh for the first time, with the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) reporting the virus in five individuals. The icddr,b revealed that this marks the first recorded cluster of the virus in the country, as the samples were collected and analyzed in 2023.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the icddr,b released the findings on its website, confirming that the cases were detected through whole genome sequencing and comparative analysis. Scientists identified the strain as part of the Asian lineage. The Zika virus can lead to severe conditions, including microcephaly and other neurological disorders.
The icddr,b highlighted that Bangladesh's tropical climate, warm temperatures, and extended rainy season create ideal breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes. This environment supports the proliferation of several mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and chikungunya. Now, the Zika virus has also been detected in the region.
Like dengue and chikungunya, Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Its symptoms are similar to those of dengue but often go undetected in 80 percent of cases. The virus can remain in the body for years and is also spread through sexual intercourse. If a woman infected with Zika becomes pregnant or if a pregnant woman contracts the virus, her child may be born with various physical defects.
The Zika virus was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947 and was later detected in humans in 1952. Since then, it has spread to many countries worldwide.