Bacteria can block transmission of Zika virus, reveals study

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: As per a new study conducted by researchers, a benign bacterium can completely block the transmission of Zika virus.

Researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-MADISON) in the US have revealed that this bacteria can block the transmission of Zika in Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which is responsible for passing the virus to humans.

The bacteria could present a "novel biological control mechanism," aiding efforts to stop the spread of Zika virus, said researcher Matthew Aliota.

Scientists believe that the Zika virus is responsible for a host of brain defects in developing foetuses, including microcephaly, and has contributed to an uptick in cases of a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

There are not yet any approved Zika virus vaccines or antiviral medications, and ongoing mosquito control strategies have not been adequate to contain the spread of the virus.

An important feature of Wolbachia bacterium is that it is self-sustainable, making it a very low-cost approach for controlling mosquito-borne viral diseases that are affecting many tropical countries around the world, researchers said.

(With PTI inputs)