The Zika virus explained: why the world is not taking chances with birth defect-linked disease spread by mosquitoes

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Daniele Ferreira dos Santos holds her son Juan Pedro during a medical examination in North-east Brazil. Santos was never diagnosed with Zika, but she blames the virus for her son’s defect and for the terrible toll it has taken on her life. Photo: AP

Published: 10:17pm, 1 Feb 2016Updated: 12:41am, 2 Feb 2016

The Zika virus is the latest panic to sweep the world but Hongkongers should know a few things about the disease and how it is spread before becoming alarmed.

The disease is spread by infected Aedes species mosquitoes, and possibly others, and has been discovered all over South America lately, but its known history spans back to the 1950s in Africa.

A case of Zika was also discovered in Indonesia, and a few outbreaks of the disease have been discovered in the Western Pacific. But it is mostly active in South America and Africa. Health experts are calling the rate of the latest outbreak “extremely alarming” and predict up to four million cases.

READ MORE: Zika virus ‘spreading explosively’ – with four million expected victims this year

The latest scare began when the virus was linked to microcephaly in Brazil – babies born with heads much smaller than normal.

The Aedes Albopictus, which is among 60 types of mosquito that can carry the virus if it stings an infected person, lives in Hong Kong sparking warnings from local health officials to eliminate breeding areas.

Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health Dr Leung Ting-hung briefs media on the Zika Virus. Photo: Sam Tsang

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said: “Do not have any unnecessary water collection at home. Take anti-mosquito measures when going outdoors.”

The Hong Kong government has decided to warn residents who have travelled to affected areas to use condoms during sex and banned them from donating blood.