The recent spread of the fatal Zika virus throughout Central and South America has left the world in shock. The entrance the virus into Miami has enhanced the scare even more. Now that it has become a realistic problem to the United States, the thought of personal safety comes to mind. There is a global panic erupting and it is obvious that this disease needs to be stopped. This mosquito-transmitted infection can be passed onto a human with as little as one bite, and because it is a virus, there is no absolute cure for it. Seeing these facts, the only thing that can be done is preventing it from moving any further. Zika has proven that it is a threat around the world, so to ensure that the country stays safe and this epidemic is contained,
First isolated from a rhesus monkey in Uganda, the Zika virus (ZIK V) did not pose a serious global threat until recent outbreaks in 2007 on Yap Island in Micronesia and the current outbreak which began in 2013 in the French Polynesia. And, although the virus is transmitted via infected mosquitoes, studies indicate that the disease potentially can be transmitted sexually (Musso, D., Roche, C., Robin, E., Nhan, T., Teissier, A., and
Consequently, the spread of the Zika virus from its originating countries of Africa and Asia, to American countries has linked the virus as an ongoing epidemic. Due to climate changes, warmer winter temperatures, there is an increase of egg survival (Ali, 2017). Warmer spring, summer, and fall temperatures may also lengthen the season transmission of the virus in temperate regions as well. In addition, the spread of the flu- like virus in humans is is also due to natural disasters, such as, earthquakes and hurricanes destroying homes forcing residents to sleep outside exposing themselves to infected mosquitoes. International travelers are also at potential risk of contracting the virus, especially in industrialized countries. Furthermore, pregnant women or women of child bearing age should refrain from traveling to countries that are known for the Zika mosquito infestation.
1. There are four key audiences that need to be communicated to about the actions of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first audience would be women who are pregnant or women who are thinking about becoming pregnant. This would be the most important key audience in my opinion since the Zika Virus greatly affects women who are pregnant and can cause negative impacts for their babies. Women who are thinking about becoming pregnant are also important because even though it currently doesn’t affect them or their baby it could in the future and they need to take precautions with where to travel and how to protect themselves. The second key audience would be couples or young adults of childbearing age planning to travel to affected areas. This audience needs to be
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
Many pregnant women have been taking advantage of Florida’s offer of free Zika testing. The con with the free testing is that state laboratories have been unable to keep pace with the amount of women using this benefit. This has resulted in hold ups for women anxious to know whether the virus has passed to their fetuses. The reason for so many women concerns is “babies infected
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 BBC News article discusses the spreading Zika virus in Spain. Sources in Spain have broken the news that the first diagnosed case of a pregnant woman contracting the virus had occurred in the country of Spain. The article discusses how this case, as well as most other cases currently diagnosed in Spain, had been contracted outside of the country in regions where the virus is rampant. The article also talks about the widespread fear that the Zika virus is the cause of some birth defects, specifically underdeveloped brains in infants.
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.
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
Over the last couple of months, the Zika virus started spreading all over South America, and they started to report more and more cases of the virus. The Zika virus eventually spread all the way into North America, and eventually it reached the United States. The United States little by little started reporting some cases, and the news stations eventually blew up the news. People all over the country started to worry about the virus and wanted immediate answers on how to not only protect themselves but also their families, and that’s exactly what BBC news and D news set out to do. The explanation of the virus is explained through two different genres, a news article BBC put out (Zika outbreak: What you need to
There are many infectious and/or communicable diseases that circulate the world and infect many people and communities. Emerging infectious diseases are those that in which the incidences have increased in the past several decades or have the potential to increase in the near future (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2016, p. 293). The newest emerging infectious disease that has begun to spread worldwide is transmitted through a simple mosquito bite and is known as the Zika virus. The purpose of this paper is to summarize a current article on the Zika virus describing its causal agents, the epidemiology, and how it has impacted the nursing practice.