The “Hidden Life” behind the Zika Virus As a pharmacy major, this semester I took the class medical microbiology. As we talked about different diseases, we briefly touched on the history of some of the diseases and it made me very curious to learn more about how the history of medicine has shaped our world today. So, for this final paper I thought it would be a great way to explore more about world history, through the lens of medicine. For the past few months, the Zika Virus has been a “hot topic” in the news due to its recent outbreaks in the United States.
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda and is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can cause a fever, joint pain, a rash, and pink eye, but most
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Edward Jenner was a scientist in London at the time who made the connection that his milkmaids, who had been infected with cowpox, were immune to smallpox. This connection is how Jenner created the first smallpox vaccine using cowpox because it provided immunity for smallpox. This was a revolutionary event in history, vaccines have been developed for diseases like chicken pox, shingles, polio, influenza, and many others. Although there is no vaccine for the Zika virus, because of Jenner’s findings, it is quite possible that there could be a vaccine for Zika Virus in the future.
The Industrial Revolution time period was not only at time for new technologies and factories, but it was a key time for breakthroughs in medicine. Before the Industrial Revolution, many scientists thought that some diseases randomly grew out of non-living objects, “miasmas” or fogs, in the air. In the mid-1800s, a chemist by the name of Louis Pasteur proved this wrong and he showed that diseases were actually caused by microscopic organisms in the environment. This discovery was revolutionary; now doctors were able to begin finding prevention methods or cures for diseases. There is so much that happens in the world today that we can trace back to Pasteur’s discovery. Without his findings, there would be no way to protect from treatable diseases. Because of Pasteur’s discovery, more research will be able to be done about Zika virus because it is failure unfamiliar to most people
Zika virus was discovered by scientists in the Zika rainforest in a remote part of Uganda in 1947, in the serum of an infected rheseus monkey. With five thousand two hundred thirty- four known cases of the infectious virus documented in the United States. There is currently no vaccination for the flu like virus. The chief concern of the healthcare administration is to continue to take preventive measures to prevent contracting the virus. Within the same flavivirus family
This paper will follow some of the major epidemics in world history. It will demonstrate how the treatments of patients in the past have changed over time. The major diseases that took out a majority of the world’s populations are now curable and the diseases are now regulated. The paper will begin with the most iconic
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
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
By Dom Phillips and Nick Miroff Phillips, Dom, and Nick Miroff. "Zika Leaves a Confusing Trail Across Americas." Washington Post, 26 Oct 2016, pp. A.1.SIRS Issues Researcher, http://sks.sirs.com.
Modern Medicine wouldn’t be the same without major turning points in history. Not only did it change the way people work in hospitals, but it changed the way people live their lives. Because of these medical discoveries and scientists, people are able to live happy, healthy lives.
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been found in Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Before 2007, only 14 cases of Zika had been documented.
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.
Have you ever wondered about the zika? If so continue on reading if not are you willing to read a essay on the zika virus. If so I will tell you about the effect it has on the world on a single person and the back round of the zika virus. As you read along you be informed that that this is not something to take lightly. It has effected more people then you could image and is going on as you ready.
The Zika virus has affected the world in many ways. It is killing most of the population of the world in diffrent countries, including the U.S.A. the virus has done bad things to this world and scientist are trying to put a stop to this virus. The virus has been know for 50 years but the reason why we are hearing about it know is because of the summer olympics in brazil where the virus is mostly now. The virus could affect some of the athletes competing in the summer olympics this year. The virus is spreading quickly through misquotes.
What is the Zika virus exactly? Have you heard of it before? Have you seen what it has done? It's just now starting to affect people in the U.S. The Zika virus is a usually mild disease that's transmitted through mosquitos. Most people recover, and severe illness or deaths from the virus are rare. The Zika virus is especially dangerous for pregnant women and their babies, and is thought to be spread around Central and South America to which pregnant women have been advised to not travel, because of results in sickness, and fatal birth defects in newborn babies. However many things are being done to fight the virus at all costs.
Why is it that when there is a real problem in the United States there is a sudden shortage of money that we need? This exact problem is happening with regards to research on the Zika virus that could be a life altering disease for some infants. The US is stating that 56 million dollars is needed to be able for diagnostics and vaccines, however they yet do not know if this virus is the sole cause of the infancy problems (The Guardian, 2016). The Zika virus is an infection thought to be leading thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains which can either result in intellectual disability or developmental delays, and in some cases death (BBC, 2016). The virus is spread by the Aedes mosquitoes, these
A world full of death and suffering as a result of diseases that are now generally considered to be non-life threatening, was in humanity’s past not too long ago. According to an article titled The Treasure Called Antibiotics, prior to the 20th Century, infectious diseases including smallpox, cholera, syphilis, tuberculosis and pneumonia accounted for high morbidity and mortality rates; the average life expectancy during this time was 47 years (Adedeji, 2016, para. 1). These widespread, highly feared diseases that had high mortality rates are no longer as life threatening as a result of medical innovations that inhibit and alleviate symptoms and complications associated with these diseases. A significant medical discovery made by a man named
Until then basic antibiotics and other medications, that we now use frequently to combat diseases, didn’t exist. (‘Science Museum’) This made it easier for individuals to die due to diseases that we now find common and even easy to remedy. Influenza was the most common cause of death until a vaccine was created to fight in 1945.Chicken-pox didn’t have a vaccine until 1974 and since then we’ve made leaps and bounds in improving medical procedures.(‘Medical Advances Timeline’) Twenty years have been added to our average life expectancy since 1950 and this trend is expected to continue, this can be largely contributed to growth in the medical industry .(‘ Living Longer.’) But with this extension of life and easier battles with previously deadly disease comes other risk
The zika virus was discovered in 1947 but the first actual human case was detected in 1952. Since that case was detected there have been outbreaks from tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands reported. Before 2007 at least 14 cases have been documented and zika outbreaks could have probably occurred in many different locations which could have been failed to be reported. This is because the symptoms are like other diseases. Zika is transmitted mostly through a mosquito bite, it can be transmitted to a fetus from a pregnant woman, through sexual intercourse, and it hasn’t been confirmed yet but it is very likely that it can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. Zika does not have a vaccine to prevent it, but since it is transmitted mostly through a mosquito bite the best way to prevent it would be to make sure you and your family members are protected from mosquito bites. Wearing long sleeves and long pants sprayed with insect repellent could help, make sure that the insect repellent contains at least one of the following ingredients DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol, or 2-undecanone and make