Questions about Zika Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (
Aedes aegypti and
Aedes albopictus). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week, and many people do not have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
What health communicators can learn from Ebola Since the World Health Organisation declared Zika a global public health emergency in February of this year, much attention has been brought to bear on applying lessons learned during the Ebola crisis of 2014-15.
What you need to know Many areas in the United States have the type of mosquitoes that can spread Zika virus. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and can also bite at night. Also, Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners.
Treatment of zika virus almost found Several scientists in the world have devoted their knowledge and efforts to obtain a medicine or vaccine that can be used in people infected with the zika virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits dengue and chikungunya. The search for a chemical formula triggered laboratory alarms since the World Health Organization (WHO) issued, in early December 2015, an epidemiological alert against zika virus due to its relationship with the increase of newborns with Microcephaly. Since then, many scientific studies have been undertaken worldwide.
Temperatures could accelerate the success of a Zika vaccine As warmer temperatures herald annoying mosquitoes, the researchers are feverishly working on several promising vaccines against zika, a virus known to infect humans through the bite of this insect. The speed and debilitating effects of last year's zika outbreak in the Western Hemisphere generated a race to develop a vaccine. Just over a year after this pandemic was declared a global health emergency, a group of volunteers are undergoing preliminary testing.
Protect Yourself & Others Protect yourself and others from Zika. Following these tips will help to protect you, your partner, your family, your friends, and your community from Zika. The more steps you take, the more protected you are.
If you are caring for a family member or friend with Zika, take steps to protect yourself from exposure to the person’s blood and body fluids.
Mosquitoes Capable of Spreading Zika Virus Found in Nevada Health officials detected the mosquitoes Wednesday in North Las Vegas. They can spread viruses such as Zika, dengue (DEN'-gee), chikungunya (chih-kihn-GUHN'-yuh) and others by biting an infected person who still has the virus in their blood, and then surviving long enough to bite another person after the virus has had time to multiply in their system.
Starts human trial of zika vaccine Sinergium Biotech has been investigating a safe immunization against zika virus. It is expected that this year will begin tests in humans, after obtaining good results in mice in the preclinical stage. The zika virus expands throughout the region, and in the summer the countries seek to limit the circulation of the disease, transmitted by the same mosquito as dengue.
Microcephaly Zika and microcephaly: Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
Half of Brazilian Women Are Avoiding Pregnancy Because of Zika Researchers found that a majority of women in Brazil are avoiding pregnancy because of fears surrounding Zika. Brazil has undeniably been the country hardest hit by the latest epidemic of Zika virus; it leads the world in confirmed cases of infection with nearly 110,000 cases, according to the latest data from the Pan American Health Organization.