Scientists from USA have developed a Zica virus vaccine using plants. It is world’s first plant based Zika Vaccine and is more effective against Zica virus. It is also cheaper as compared to other medicine available to treat the virus. The medicine has been developed from Tobacco plant using protein present in the plant.
This newly developed Zika Virus Vaccine will be very helpful as currently there is no licensed vaccine available to combat Zika.
How the vaccine functions?
The Vaccine was developed by Arizona State University (ASU) researchers. The medicine acts against D|||, which is a part of the Zika Viral Protein and plays a major role to infect people.
About Zika Virus:
It is a vector borne disease that is transmitted by the same mosquito name Aedes aegypti which causes Dengue, Yellow fever and West Nile fever. The virus was first discovered in Zika forests of Uganda in 1947 because of that it was given name of Zika Virus.
Its symptoms are mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. The symptompts lasts for 2-7 days. The virus causes serious birth defects and other health issue in newly born babies as well as to adults. It attacks immune system of adults.
Transmission:
The virus is transmitted from pregnant woman to its baby which causes abnormalities in brain of newly born. There are possibilities of Sexual transmission of Zika virus. Transmission possibility through blood transfusion is under investigation.
