Zika Virus
The infamous virus that grasped everyone’s attention in recent years, the Zika virus. Although the virus was first discovered in Uganda, in the Zika forest, the virus caused a great epidemic in Brazil and swept the nation in fear.
The outbreak of this virus led to controversial debates over whether the Brazil Olympics should be held or not, worrying the athletes’ health. The proposal was eventually dismissed, however, it is clearly seen from this example that an outbreak of a viral disease can greatly affect a country and should be dealt with immediately.
Zika viruses are single-stranded RNA type viruses that were first discovered in 1947 in Zika forest, Uganda. In the recent years, the virus majorly broke out in Brazil, most likely due to numerous international events Brazil has hosted (World Cup, International Canoe tournament) which could have attracted infected travellers into Brazil.
It was soon discovered that mosquitos were able to transmit the disease. As they would suck out the blood of an infected individual and move onto another individual, many people soon got infected.
As of now, known means of transmission of this virus are, mosquito bites and contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual.
Symptoms
Actual symptoms of Zika viruses are actually quite mild, with the symptoms being:
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mediocre fever,
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skin rash,
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muscle pain,
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headaches which lasts ranging from a day to a week.
This is due to the fact that antibodies against the Zika viruses are already developed in most humans. However, the complications behind the Zika viruses are that, they are also the causative agent for microcephaly (deformation of infant at birth) and the Guillain-Barre syndrome (slow damage/destruction of the immune system).
According to CDC (Center for Disease Control and prevention), in the US territories, a territory unrelated to the origins of Zika virus, it is recorded that there are 691 pregnant women reported to be infected with Zika virus and 8035 Zika virus cases has been reported in the US territories. This data proves that even though the US territories have no relation to the origins of the Zika virus, it is spreading at a fast pace and a raise in awareness in necessary.
In order to find out how to avoid getting infected by the Zika virus, take a look at: