As related by records of the WHO, the Zika virus was first identified in 1927 in a rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest of Uganda. There were a few cases of humans infected with the virus in the 50’s and 60’s, but the first big outbreak in the human population occurred in 2007 in the Pacific Island of Yap. The virus is primarily transmitted through an infected mosquito bite; more specifically, an infected Aedes species mosquito, which are known to also transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses. However, it can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby, through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and exposure in labs.
The news about the Zika virus has been taking over the news in recent months. An apparently harmless infection that only presents mild symptoms, if any, has been linked to an outbreak of newborns with microcephaly, and with rising numbers Guillain-Barré syndrome cases. In the United States there are currently 1860 reported cases, and 265 cases of pregnant women with evidence of infection by the Zika virus, according to the CDC. With the Olympic games of 2016 taking place on Brazil, where there is declared emergency state with the infection and associated problems, it is time to learn as much as we can to prevent infection any further complications.
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