Blog 2- Zika Virus

Zika 
According to the CDC , Zika is a virus that has recently been reported in the United States. Most cases have occurred down south in areas such as Florida and Texas. Transmission of Zika is mostly done by Aedes mosquitoes. It can also be passed down by sex, blood transfusion, or mother to child during pregnancy.

An Aedes Mosquito 

Symptoms
Most people who have Zika won't have any or have mild symptoms. If symptoms are felt, they are commonly a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Symptoms can be diagnosed by a blood or urine test. The Zika Virus usually stays in the persons blood stream for about a week. Zika symptoms are a main concern for pregnant women because it can potentially effect their baby.

Areas 
According to the CDC, there has been reported cases in Brownsville, Texas and Miami, Florida. There are alerts and warnings for pregnant women to not travel to those areas if possibly. There have been many cases in Mexico, countries in the Caribbean and South America. Pregnant women are strongly encouraged not to travel to any of those countries at any stages of pregnancy.

Prevention
According to the World Health Organization there has been no vaccine or medication found for Zika yet. It can be prevented by using insect repellent, wearing clothing as much as possible, and mosquito nets. Finding a good quality insect repellent and then reapplying regularly can prevent mosquito bites and the risk of Zika.

According to an article put out by Consumer Report, the best insect repellents are Sawyer Picaridin, Natrapel 8 Hour, and Off! Deep Woods VIII. The Sawyer Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour both contain 20% Picaridin. Off! Deep Woods VIII has 25% Deet.

A bottle of Sawyer Picaridin

There has been other ways of prevention done by the government. Aerial Spraying can be done by planes or vehicles. It sprays insecticides mainly Naled on large areas that have many mosquitoes. Naled has been used since the 1950's and is something that degrades on surfaces with water or sunlight. There is such a small amount sprayed at a time that it doesn't pose the risk of hurting people or causes illness.

Birth Defects 
Microcephaly is the birth defect that can be caused by Zika. It is where the head of the infant is smaller then a normal infant sized head. A smaller head leads to a smaller brain that has not fully been developed yet.

Congenital Zika syndrome is the pattern of birth defects that has gone a long with the Zika Virus. It includes Microcephaly, decreased brain tissue, back of the eye damage, and joints with limited range of motion.

Guillain- Barre syndrome is a sickness of the nervous system that causes the immune system to damage nerve cells leading to weakness of muscle and/or paralysis. The connection between Zika and Guillain- Barre syndrome was made when countries has serious Zika outbreaks and reported increase in Guillain- Barre syndrome at the same time. Guillain- Barre will only last a few months and is something people rarely die from.

Pregnant women are encouraged not to travel to areas in the south that have a high mosquito population and places that have reported Zika.