The Fearless Traveler's Hack For Avoiding Zika in Nigeria

There was very little about the Zika virus that the people in my small community in Bariga knew about. As a matter of fact, all they really knew was that the virus was deadly. And that if you contracted it, wo, o ti ku danu niyen.

Of course I wasn't always directly spoken to whenever I was around. Many of the young people there are drug addicts who cannot afford education, so they actively push on the gas pedal of the vehicle called life. I have been offered a smoke once or twice. I have declined once or twice.

Let's talk about the facts of Zika. We know that the disease itself is called Zika, and that it is transmitted by a virus (called the Zika virus; it's getting tedious, this repetition) carried by a dangerously compromised Aedes mosquito.

The symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (according to CDC.gov).

CDC says of the virus: "the illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections."

Origin of the Zika Virus

Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Zika outbreaks have probably occurred in many locations. Before 2007, at least 14 cases of Zika had been documented, although other cases were likely to have occurred and were not reported. Because the symptoms of Zika are similar to those of many other diseases, many cases may not have been recognized.

In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil and on Feb 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Local transmission has been reported in many other countries and territories. Zika virus likely will continue to spread to new areas.

Specific areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission is ongoing are often difficult to determine and are likely to change over time. If traveling, please visit the CDC Travelers' Health site for the most updated travel information.

List Of Countries With The Most Recent Case of Zika Outbreak

Source: ecdc.europa.eu

According to that chart, Zika isn't in Nigeria, at least not yet.

If you're a Nigerian about to embark on a trip and you're unsure about the prevalence of the Zika virus in your vicinity, consider reading the following additional articles:

List of Places Where It Is Impossible To Contract The Zika Virus

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