14 heartbreaking images of the untreatable Zika virus, which is causing one of the biggest public health crises in Brazil's history
As of right now, there's no treatment for the Zika virus, which is why the CDC is urging pregnant women to avoid traveling to countries where the virus is growing in strength. Labs are currently doing studies to find more answers.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, carrier of the Zika virus, can be found in 23 countries in South America and Central America, as well as some parts of the US, such as Florida.
The outbreak started in Brazil. The country reported their first case of the Zika virus in April 2015 and have since reported the highest number of cases.
On Tuesday, January 26, Brazil started to spray insecticide around towns to kill off the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Soldiers and health agents are going to homes to do clean-up operations and check for the Aedes aegypti mosquito. On February 13, Brazil's government is planning to deploy 220,000 soldiers to spread awareness about the Zika virus and ways to prevent it.
Source: BBC.com.
The virus has shown up in the US, but only from travelers returning from the areas where the Zika virus has been reported. There has been one case in Hawaii, and two women tested positive for the virus in Illinois.
Some countries, such as Brazil and El Salvador, are recommending that women should avoid getting pregnant until a treatment is found.
Microcephaly, the neurological disease that has recently been linked with the Zika virus, can cause severe developmental issues and even result in death.
Source: AP the Big Story.
Since the outbreak in Brazil began, 46 babies have died from microcephaly linked with the virus.
The virus affects newborn babies when it passes through amniotic fluid in the womb while the babies are growing.
The Zika virus is primarily transmitted from the bite of a mosquito, but there have been reports of possible transmission through blood transfusion and sexual contact.
Source: CDC.
The outbreak in Brazil is said to be one of the biggest public health crises in Brazilian history.
Source: UPI.com.
Since there is no treatment or vaccine yet, the only way to prevent the Zika virus is to avoid traveling to countries that are proven to have cases of the virus — such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, and others.
If you decide to travel to a country where the Zika virus is present, take strict precautions to avoid getting the mosquito bite, such as wearing repellent sun screen, long sleeves and pants thick enough to prevent a bite, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement