The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, is present in several countries. The virus generally causes a mild disease with symptoms of viral fever, skin rashes, body aches and headache. However the Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her foetus which could cause birth defects. There is currently no vaccine or medicine to treat the Zika virus.
Canadian based biotech company BioLytical Laboratories recently filed two patent applications at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering a method for detecting the Zika virus.
The first patent application describes a method for detecting active or past infection using Zika as an example while the second describes a method for differentiating between early or late stages of infection.
Source: buff.ly/2c19fP4
