Zika Outbreak Research Paper

The Zika Outbreak The Zika virus is an emerging new illness that may have more consequences than originally thought. Ever since an outbreak in Uganda in 1947, the world attempted to fully understand Zika, but even now, the medical community cannot quite comprehend everything about it. As more cases of the virus are being reported, people are attempting to combat and eradicate the illness using old and new methods. If the Zika virus continues to spread, future generations may receive the heavy end of the impact and at a point where nothing can be done. Zika is a virus that is most commonly spread through the bite of Aedes mosquito with symptoms of fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headaches (WHO). The incubation period is unknown, but more often than not, those infected are not aware because they do not show any symptoms (CDC). It is most prominent in tropical regions but is appearing in other areas because of how it spreads. According to the WHO, “Zika virus diagnosis can only be confirmed by laboratory testing for the presence of Zika virus RNA in …show more content…
The most common neurological disorder that is appearing due to the virus is microcephaly, in which the baby’s head is much smaller than average. According to the CDC, “Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size” (CDC). Some of the problems microcephaly has been connected to are vision problems, hearing problems, feeding problems (difficulty swallowing), problems with movement and balance, a lesser ability to function and learn in daily life, developmental delay, and seizures. This “lifelong condition” has no known cure or established treatment