Earlier this month, news broke out that the Zika virus which cause microcephaly in newborn babies reached Puerto Rico. As per Inquisitr, Puerto Rico's representative in congress, Pedro Pierluisi released a statement regarding Zika fever.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first Zika virus case in Puerto Rico. The said virus already infested Puerto Rico's neighboring countries such as Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Paraguay and Mexico.

Puerto Rico's Health Secretary, Ana Rius, was the one who confirmed that the Zika virus that hit the Puerto Rican victim was acquired from a local mosquito after a thorough investigation considering the fact that the patient has not traveled recently.

As per Pierluisi, though the virus may have reached Puerto Rico, residents should not panic as it is only a single case. He did however warn the public to make necessary precautions such as wearing long pants and using insect repellents.

During his speech, Pierluisi stated, "There is no reason for alarm, and the public should continue to take common sense steps to avoid mosquito bites, like using repellent and wearing long pants and shirts."

Zika fever is closely related to insect borne diseases caused by the Zika Virus or ZIKV. It was first detected from a monkey in Uganda back in 1947. The first case of Zika on a human was dates back in 1952 in Nigeria.

ZIKV infested mosquitoes would normally attack their victims during mid-morning and the period between late afternoon and evening as per Tech Times. The virus is the one responsible for numerous microcephaly cases in Latin America wherein patients would suffer from having abnormally small heads and altered brain development.  

Tech Times then added that the Zika virus is commonly acquired after being bitten by disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Other mosquito species such as Aedes africanus, Aedes albopictus, Aedes polynesiensis, Aedes unilineatus, Aedes vittatus and Aedes hensilli also have the capability to transmit the disease. It can also be transmitted through perinatal transmission which means that the mother infected by the virus can transfer ZIKV to her child though child birth or trans-placental transmission.

There is no known treatment for Zika Virus as of the moment. Individuals infected with the virus can take pain relievers and fever medications such as paracetamol and acetaminophen. As of this date, there have been no recorded deaths caused by the virus. The Zika fever can sometimes last from several days to a week; it does not however require hospitalization once a person is infected.