How is Zika virus treated?

So far, there is no treatment for Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls this an epidemic on the same level as that of Ebola. Because of this, there’s a lot of money being poured into quick research on vaccines and treatment options. So far, none are commercially available.

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Currently, doctors are only able to treat Zika virus symptoms. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika virus.

People should do the following if they have Zika virus:

• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Take medicine such as Tylenol or acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain.  
• Avoid aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding. 
• If they are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider before taking additional medication.  
• Attempt prevention of mosquito bites for the first week of illness.  During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.

There is no specific treatment nor vaccine available for Zika virus. Rest, fluids and acetaminophen will help symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided if dengue fever is a possibility.

There is no vaccine or cure for Zika. Treat it as you would a cold or flu virus, with plenty of:acetaminophen (and/or ibuprofen if you’re not pregnant), fluids and rest.

So far, there is no specific treatment for Zika virus. The goal of treatment is to relieve bothersome symptoms such as pain or fever while the virus runs its course. Doctors recommend rest and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

There is no specific treatment for a Zika virus infection. It's a lot like the flu or a cold. Treatment involves managing your symptoms until the illness goes away.