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Q31 (IAS/2017) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Human infectious diseases Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue. 2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C because both statements are correct.

Statement 1 is correct: Zika virus is primarily transmitted by infected mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti but also Aedes albopictus; these species also transmit dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow[1] fever. The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that spread Chikungunya and dengue.[2]

Statement 2 is also correct: sexual transmission was confirmed as an alternate route of Zika virus infection.[3] There is also evidence of transmission through sexual contacts and possibly also through blood donation, as well as from mother to child.[4]

Since both statements are accurate according to the sources, option C (Both 1 and 2) is the correct answer. This question tests knowledge of Zika virus transmission routes, which is important for understanding public health measures needed to control the disease.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zika-virus
  2. [2] https://srhd.org/health-topics/diseases-conditions/zika-virus
  3. [3] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zika-virus
  4. [4] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/zika-virus-infection/prevention-and-treatment-zika-virus-disease
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Q. Consider the following statements : 1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 ¡ 10/10
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This is a classic 'Headline Science' question derived from a Public Health Emergency (the 2016 Zika outbreak). The strategy is simple: when a new disease dominates the news, immediately compare its 'Vector' and 'Transmission Mode' against standard textbook diseases like Dengue and Malaria.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Zika virus disease in tropical regions transmitted by the same mosquito species (Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus) that transmits dengue?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Zika virus is primarily transmitted by infected mosquitoes of the Aedes (Stegomyia) genus, mainly Aedes aegypti but also Aedes albopictus; these species also transmit dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow fever."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names the mosquito species that transmit Zika: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
  • Directly states these same species also transmit dengue (and other arboviruses).
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Two types of [*Aedes* mosquitoes] are capable of transmitting Zika virus – *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus*. These are the same species that"
Why this source?
  • States the two Aedes species capable of transmitting Zika are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
  • Indicates these are the same species implicated in transmission of dengue (continuation implied).
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that spread Chikungunya and dengue."
Why this source?
  • Affirms Zika is primarily transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes.
  • Specifically notes these are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue (and chikungunya).

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Dengue and Chikungunya > p. 79
Strength: 5/5
“Dengue is a type of fever which is also called as 'Break-bone Fever' or 'Dandy Fever'. Diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya are seasonal and show fuctuating trends in various seasons in diferent years. Te dengue virus is carried by the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Te Asiatic tiger mosquito is another prominent carrier of the virus. Tere have been recent breakouts of dengue and chickengunya. In brief, dengue is characterised by fever and extreme pain in and stifness of joints (hence the name 'break-bone fever'. A mosquito becomes infected only if it bites an infected individual (humans and monkeys) during the frst three days of the victims illness.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states dengue virus is carried by the yellow‑fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and that the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is another prominent carrier.

How to extend

A student could note these Aedes species as established vectors for an arboviral disease in tropics and then check whether Zika is also classified as an arbovirus transmitted by the same genus in maps or vector lists.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Activity 3.4: Let us find out > p. 35
Strength: 4/5
“• Col1: Malaria; Col2: Protozoa; Col3: Skin, blood; Diseases transmitted by insects: High fever, profuse sweating, periodic chills; Col5: Use of mosquito nets and repellents, wearing long–sleeved clothes, control of mosquito breeding in and around your home • Col1: Dengue fever (Break bone fever); Col2: Virus; Col3: Skin, blood; Diseases transmitted by insects: Fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea; Col5: Use of mosquito nets and repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothes, control of mosquito breeding in and around your home, avoiding areas with still water By studying the Table 3.1, we can understand how infectious diseases spread and how to prevent them.”
Why relevant

Classifies dengue as a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes and lists prevention by controlling mosquito breeding, linking dengue to mosquito vectors in general.

How to extend

Use the pattern that dengue is a mosquito‑borne virus to motivate checking whether Zika (another viral disease reported in tropical regions) shares mosquito transmission.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > 3.4.1 How are communicable diseases caused and spread? > p. 33
Strength: 4/5
“personal items of an infected person. Some of the communicable diseases spread through contaminated drinking water or food. Some pathogens are also spread by insects like mosquitoes and houseflies—these insects are called vectors (Fig. 3.4). By understanding how diseases spread, we can take simple steps to protect ourselves and others. Let us find out how these communicable diseases spread and how we can prevent them.”
Why relevant

Defines vectors as insects like mosquitoes that spread pathogens and emphasizes that some pathogens are spread by mosquitoes.

How to extend

Apply the general rule that many viruses in tropics are mosquito‑borne to suggest investigating which mosquito species transmit Zika versus dengue.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Epidemics > p. 37
Strength: 3/5
“Ebola fever in West Africa (Guinea, Sierra-Leone, Libara, etc.) has emerged as a serious epidemics during the last decade. In 2015, the swine flu outbreak occurred in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. More than 2000 people died in the epidemic. The 'Nipah' virus in 2018 resulted in a total of 19 deaths of which 17 were from Kerala. The outbreak was localised in the districts of Kozhikode and Mallapuram and three deaths due to 'Zika' virus infection were also reported from Kerala. The Encephalitis syndrome has resulted in death of over 153 children in the state of Bihar in June 2019.”
Why relevant

Mentions reported cases of Zika virus infection in Kerala (tropical region) without specifying vector, establishing that Zika occurs in areas where mosquito‑transmitted diseases are present.

How to extend

Combine occurrence of Zika in tropical regions with the known presence of Aedes mosquitoes there to plausibly hypothesize overlapping vectors and then verify with targeted vector information.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Transmission > p. 25
Strength: 3/5
“Epidemic diseases are transmitted in many ways. Some of the ways of their transmission are as under: • 1. By direct contact, for example, droplets sprayed about when a patient coughs or sneezes• 2. By contaminated food and water.• 3. By arthropods—filth associated flies—of various types that may serve as mechanical carriers of disease germs as in dysentery and cholera. Blood-sucking arthropods like mosquitoes are more effective transmitters.”
Why relevant

States that blood‑sucking arthropods like mosquitoes are effective transmitters of epidemic diseases, providing a rule that mosquitoes commonly transmit human viral diseases.

How to extend

Use this general transmission rule to justify investigating whether the same mosquito genera (Aedes) transmit multiple tropical arboviruses such as dengue and Zika.

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The causal organism of dengue fever is a mosquito-borne virus which belongs to which one among the following categories?