How To Prevent Zika Disease

Based on the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 23,000 people in the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico have contracted the Zika virus. Especially, there are more than 2,000 pregnant women, which is especially troubling because the virus can cause birth defects. The CDC estimates that 20 babies in the mainland U.S. and 1 baby in Puerto Rica have been born with birth defects related to Zika. The Zika virus can cause microcephaly – a condition where a baby's head and brain are undersized and underdeveloped – in as many as 13 percent of babies born to women who get infected while pregnant. It is also linked to several other types of birth defects, and to Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. As the result, the deal reached in Congress includes $394 million to help control Zika-carrying mosquitoes and another $397 million to help develop a vaccine against the virus and better tests to help diagnose cases of Zika. There is also $66 million allocated to health care for people affected by Zika in Puerto Rico and other U.S.

As of now, there is no official vaccine for Zika. Instead, a patient that has the contagion must undergo certain treatments. Fortunately, the remedies for the virus are simple and cheap. If infection occurs, it is vital to get an abundance of rest and liquids; medication is also advised to assist in alleviating pain. The treatments for Zika are straightforward because the disease itself is rather mild. In fact, in most reported cases of the virus in the United States, the illness only lasted approximately two to seven days prior to the first set of symptoms (“World Health Organization”). It is evident that the fear associated with the Zika Virus is slightly exaggerated. Currently, there is only one recorded fatality in the United States that is directly related to Zika (“The Washington Post”). This is mainly because first world countries’ medical programs are advanced enough to effectively treat the virus. The standard of living in these countries are also higher compared to third world countries. That is why Zika has claimed a significant amount of lives worldwide; the poor conditions in these countries make it difficult for infected individuals to get proper

How is the Zika virus affecting pregnant women in the United States? A report published Tuesday by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, provided evidence of the risk of birth defects increasing when women are infected in the first trimester. The hypothesis of the report indicated that one in 10 pregnant women with Zika virus in U.S. have babies with birth defects and that there was at least one pregnant woman with a suspected Zika virus infection in every state of the United States. The USZPR includes data of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. This study was in response to the recent outbreak of Zika virus cases worldwide and the concerns of birth defects linked to this virus. Babies infected with the Zika virus are born with small heads, known as microcephaly, a

“This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly”( Tom Frieden). Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development. With the Olympics being held in Brazil, there is much cause to attention the potential disease being brought back to the U.S. by female athletes bringing an epidemic to carry havoc on the citizens of the United States. It can be spread very easily through mosquito bites of the yellow fever mosquito. From the mosquitoes, the virus does not cause many symptoms to its victims generating unknown awareness of the virus. “ Only one in five people who become infected with Zika virus will feel sick. Symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever, rash, pink eye, pains in joints, pain behind the eyes, headache, and muscle pains”( Levison, Matthew). The symptoms, if any, last 4-7 days in most cases. The Zika Virus is an easily spread disease with few symptoms.

Zika virus creates a trepidation among people as it is spreading across South and Central America. We hear it every day as it is procuring Ebola-level awareness. In her article, “An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak, published in February 3rd of 2016, Anna Almendrala enumerates the effects of Zika virus and the alarming fear it causes among the people. “Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes” (Almendrala). The author expounds the fatal consequence to babies born with birth defects such as microcephaly: the condition where infants born with undersized heads. The author emphasizes the relation between Zika virus and microcephaly. Microcephaly is the condition where infants born with undersized heads. Almendrala’s purpose is to convey the idea of how the Zika virus is spread across the countries through mosquitoes and she informs the audience to take special care of pregnant women as they are more prone to the Zika virus and always be vigilant while traveling to countries that are affected by Zika virus, especially African, Central and South America where more people are affected by Zika virus and more babies are born with undersized heads caused by

The growing concern of the Zika outbreak that originated back in 1947 Uganda in monkeys and later crossed over to humans in 1952 has now reached several countries. These outbreaks are occurring in Brazil and reportedly more than 7,000 people have been infected from mosquito bites. On February 1, 2016 the World Health Organization declared the Zika a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. To combat the issue Louisville activated the “Zika Response Action Plan, which provides guidelines for preparation and response to the virus in the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) jurisdiction” (ZIKA Response plan, 2016). The plan being used by Louisville demonstrates the prevention and mitigation being executed

I created an exciting fast-paced informative video about the Zika virus to support the community. This video helps to understand how the virus started to spread and its consequences, it also provides some tips on how to prevent and prepare for its’ dangerous attack in South Florida.

The Zika virus has had a constant presence in the news for the past few months. This article describes Ana Gabriela do Prado Paschoal's struggles. She contracted the Zika virus while pregnant with her now three month old daughter Maria. Maria now suffers from brain lesions, stiff muscles, and brain damage. With the help of scans, imaging, and autopsies doctors learned that the Zika virus eats away at the fetal brain. It is responsible for shrinking or destroying the part of the brain that controls vision, thought process, and other basic functions.

Stein also reports that microcephaly in infants due to the Zika virus is rare, but the risk has been increased in Brazil, due to the endemic status of the infection (Stein, 2016). This article mainly focuses on pregnant women and their children,

Many scientists all around have heard of a virus before, but not as infectious as the zika virus. This virus can ruin a little infant. But one truism statement about this virus, which freaks out scientists, is that it is carried by mosquitos. Terrible isn't it? If I were you, I would think to myself what will make this virus restrain itself? Well in order to stop it the best solution is to splat the mosquitos; because well let's face it, mom's little children that have been born wouldn't want to have a small head and a big body. Lots of people came back with this virus but the devastated citizens didn't notice this virus coming to

The Zika Virus outbreak currently developing in Latin America is a challenge that the US must worry about. With Latin America being right next door to the United States, the Zika Virus must be contained within Latin America but Latin America should be offered some relief in treating and preventing the disease. More specifically, the US should emplace traveling restrictions for heavily infected countries and regulate health exams for people traveling to South America. The US should also enforce tighter mosquito season requirements like monitoring mosquito populations and require spraying in areas with suspected cases. In terms of international relations, the US, in collaboration with other world powers, should adopt policies to help stop the spread of viral diseases like Ebola and other diseases like Zika by working with

Especially, the poor have little resources to protect from the mosquitoes such as repellents, window screens, and air-conditioning (Jacobs, 2016). Most of the poor live in slum areas where homes are built on top of each other, so that it is difficult to prevent contact with the mosquitoes (Rogers, 2016). If some of the neighbors did not care about the Zika virus, the mosquitoes would dramatically increase in a slum. “Effective repellents are too expensive for many in a country where the average wage is $626 per month, according to the government” (Rogers, 2016, p. A2). Some of the residence in the slums do not allow the Zika police come into their house, and they may have weapons. This is a reason why Brazilian government use the armed force in this campaign (Rogers 2016). It is obvious that the rich can protect themselves with some resources, but the poor face a huge challenge to protect themselves from the virus.

The government approximates that at least 1.5 million Brazilians have been infected in the last few months(“Areas with Zika”).The mortifying consequences of the Ebola disease is still fresh in the public’s minds, there is a lot of concern increasing around the world over the political, social, and economic impact of Zika virus for now that is affecting Brazil. Amidst the country’s hardest political and economic challenges in years. As scientists learn more about Zika itself, it is not going to play out for Latin America’s largest economy. Public Health Officials have only a little amount of control over the virus. It is a mild disease, about three quarters of those with the virus develop flu-like symptoms, which last about one week, while the remainder can't be seen or felt(CBS). This means that if the disease keeps spreading and adults keep getting sick, productivity will decrease hurting Brazil's economy in the process. Not only is it hurting the economy but it's going to create problems along the “social classes”. Poverty is one of the major critical factors in determining where the virus will hit the hardest and where it will not affect society as much. In Brazil, the events affecting different communities that are both being confronted by Zika can vary overwhelmingly depending on wealth. Poor communities are more likely to be impacted by the Zika virus (Combs).The real actual danger comes when the efforts being made to avoid panic for the public stand in the way of good public health policy. Providing infection screenings for free and travel bans can possibly create a sense of security, a false one, leading people into perceiving that they're safe and to falsely make them believe that they aren’t at risk. This is thereby increasing the odds of infection. Simple steps should be taken to advise the public, such as government

Triggered to develop a local plan for mosquito reduction and surveillance; plan for extra control measures if needed.

April 2015, small but deadly outbreaks began in Brazil, South America. Hundreds of Brazilian women infected by the Zika virus, endanger their unborn children to develop a form of brain damage called, Microcephaly. In the early months of 2016, South America’s CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) announced the Zika virus has taken full effect, and called for a state of emergency. Researchers today, study the effects of the Zika virus, where it comes/evolved from, and if there is a cure.