Name: Steffan Barrett
Date: April 6, 2016
ID#: 620068648
Tutor: Mrs Newman
Stream: 40
Assignment: Documented Essay (Final Draft)
The zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus and is spread by the female mosquito while the cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus in the same family as herpesvirus and is spread by body fluids, such as saliva, blood and urine. Both viruses are extremely dangerous to the unborn. The cytomegalovirus is known for affecting millions of babies each year, is a leading cause of disabilities in children and has been in existence since 1881. There is no cure or vaccine, yet the general public appears to have little awareness of it. Meanwhile the zika virus, which has an outbreak …show more content…
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), the cytomegalovirus is the most common viral infection that infants are born with in the United States, is the leading cause of congenital abnormalities, has no cure or vaccine and is spread by body contact and body like sweat and saliva. Recently though, new studies have emerged to provide data on a virus, which has similar characteristics as the cytomegalovirus. This virus is the zika virus. The zika virus displays similar symptoms however it is spread by the female mosquito. There is currently an outbreak of the zika virus in various parts of the world that has triggered a worldwide awareness of the disease. Health organizations and scientists are working tirelessly to spread the awareness and develop a vaccine for the zika. They have succeeded in spreading the awareness globally but not able to develop a vaccine. This however is not the same for CMV. Despite CMV being the leading cause of birth defects in the world, and having existed longer than the zika virus, it is being given little attention compared to the zika virus which has just emerged. Both viruses are extremely dangerous, especially to the unborn, therefore it is important that these viruses are given equal …show more content…
(WHO, 2016). In 1952, the first human cases were reported in Uganda affecting 84 people of all ages. A report of the zika virus was first recorded in 1964 when a scientist in Uganda fell ill while working with Zika virus strains taken from mosquitoes and that provided the first proof, by virus isolation and re-isolation, that Zika virus causes human disease. Since then, the virus has been identified in human in locations including Egypt, Nigeria, Philippines and Vietnam. The zika virus had its first outbreak in 2007 on the Pacific island of Yap, in the Federated States of Micronesia with 185 confirmed cases. A massive outbreak which occurred between 2013 and 2014 affected areas of the Pacific Islands, New Caledonia and East Island. The most recent outbreak was in 2015 and it affected Caribbean countries like Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago South American countries like Brazil and Colombia. The outbreak continued into 2016 spreading to other areas of the world like England and the United States. The WHO further stated that during the 2013–14 outbreak of Zika virus in French Polynesia, two mothers and their new-borns were found to have Zika virus infection, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on serum collected within four days of birth. The infants’ infections appeared to have been
Date: April 6, 2016
ID#: 620068648
Tutor: Mrs Newman
Stream: 40
Assignment: Documented Essay (Final Draft)
The zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus and is spread by the female mosquito while the cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus in the same family as herpesvirus and is spread by body fluids, such as saliva, blood and urine. Both viruses are extremely dangerous to the unborn. The cytomegalovirus is known for affecting millions of babies each year, is a leading cause of disabilities in children and has been in existence since 1881. There is no cure or vaccine, yet the general public appears to have little awareness of it. Meanwhile the zika virus, which has an outbreak …show more content…
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), the cytomegalovirus is the most common viral infection that infants are born with in the United States, is the leading cause of congenital abnormalities, has no cure or vaccine and is spread by body contact and body like sweat and saliva. Recently though, new studies have emerged to provide data on a virus, which has similar characteristics as the cytomegalovirus. This virus is the zika virus. The zika virus displays similar symptoms however it is spread by the female mosquito. There is currently an outbreak of the zika virus in various parts of the world that has triggered a worldwide awareness of the disease. Health organizations and scientists are working tirelessly to spread the awareness and develop a vaccine for the zika. They have succeeded in spreading the awareness globally but not able to develop a vaccine. This however is not the same for CMV. Despite CMV being the leading cause of birth defects in the world, and having existed longer than the zika virus, it is being given little attention compared to the zika virus which has just emerged. Both viruses are extremely dangerous, especially to the unborn, therefore it is important that these viruses are given equal …show more content…
(WHO, 2016). In 1952, the first human cases were reported in Uganda affecting 84 people of all ages. A report of the zika virus was first recorded in 1964 when a scientist in Uganda fell ill while working with Zika virus strains taken from mosquitoes and that provided the first proof, by virus isolation and re-isolation, that Zika virus causes human disease. Since then, the virus has been identified in human in locations including Egypt, Nigeria, Philippines and Vietnam. The zika virus had its first outbreak in 2007 on the Pacific island of Yap, in the Federated States of Micronesia with 185 confirmed cases. A massive outbreak which occurred between 2013 and 2014 affected areas of the Pacific Islands, New Caledonia and East Island. The most recent outbreak was in 2015 and it affected Caribbean countries like Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago South American countries like Brazil and Colombia. The outbreak continued into 2016 spreading to other areas of the world like England and the United States. The WHO further stated that during the 2013–14 outbreak of Zika virus in French Polynesia, two mothers and their new-borns were found to have Zika virus infection, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on serum collected within four days of birth. The infants’ infections appeared to have been