Viral hysteria? Social media and Zika

On 2 February 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Zika virus a global emergency. On 3 February, the first case of Zika transmission in the US was identified in Dallas, Texas. The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) believes the virus in Texas was spread through sexual contact, although the primary vector remains mosquitoes within the genus Aedes. Zika's modes of transmission, possible vaccines, emergence in various countries, and connection to microcephaly (a congenital condition affecting brain development) will continue to drive research. It will also fuel speculation and rumours around the world. In Southasia, in order to prepare for Zika, we will, among other things, have to combat the viral spread of misinformation along social media networks.

Fear of its arrival has already made headlines in Southasia, country after country. Since only one in five of the infected will manifest any symptoms, according to CDC, the paranoia is understandable. Once Zika makes landfall – through a tourist, most likely – the standing fresh water pools that breed Aedes aegypti in India could become geographic hubs of the virus, as they already are for dengue and chikungunya. Zika poses the greatest risk to pregnant women, resulting in a high probability of microcephaly in the children born to them. Southasian governments and people should take all precautions to keep Zika from becoming endemic to the region.