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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Zika is spread mainly by Aedes mosquitoes (chiefly Aedes aegypti), the same day-biting mosquitoes that carry dengue and chikungunya, and WHO confirms that it can also pass through sexual contact. Both statements are correct.
- ✓ 1. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus carry Zika as well as dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow fever; these mosquitoes are most common in tropical and subtropical regions.
- ✓ 2. Besides mosquito bites, Zika spreads from mother to fetus in pregnancy, through sexual contact, blood transfusion and laboratory exposure.
Remember · Zika: flavivirus spread by Aedes aegypti (also dengue, chikungunya vector); also sexual and mother-to-fetus transmission; infection in pregnancy can cause microcephaly.
Sources
- WHO fact sheet: Zika virus ↗ “mainly Aedes aegypti but also Aedes albopictus ; these species also transmit dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow fever. These mosquitoes are most abundant in tropical and subtropical regions … Zika virus is also transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, laboratory exposure, transfusion of blood and blood products”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·