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Zika Pandemic Research Paper

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“The Zika pandemic has reached the united states” millions have read across headlines in the US spreading panic and fear. Most of the fear comes from a lack of understanding of the Zika virus. The Zika virus is not a dangerous to most healthy adults and child causing only symptoms of joint pain, rash, low grade fever and red eyes, though most patients exhibit little to no symptoms. While the disease is not harmful to healthy adults and children it can have dangerous effects on pregnant women’s unborn child. Zika can cause the fetus to develop microcephaly which causes the baby’s head to be born abnormally small, decreased brain size causing causes cognitive deficiencies and vision disabilities. In the US the Zika pandemic has the greatest effect on US common wealth Puerto …show more content…

The Zika virus is spread primarily by the mosquito species Aedes. To decrease the spread of Zika through mosquitos is to implement a series of precautions. The first action is to destroy mosquito breeding grounds by using pesticides and drain any still water. Secondly impellent the use mosquito netting in homes and businesses. The third step is to encourage the use of bug spray, mainly those containing DEET. Additionally, when traveling outside of Puerto Rico to a non-infected area continue to wear repellent for two weeks to prevent the transmission of Zika to local mosquitos(“Prevention”). It has been found that Zika can also be spread through sexual transmitted. To prevent the sexual transmission of Zika it is recommended to abstain or wear condoms during sex for 8 weeks after potential exposure, even if symptoms are not exhibited (Oster 1). It is still unsure Zika can be sexually transmitted by females or if other body fluids beside blood and sperm (e.g. saliva) can carry the Zika virus (“Zika and Sexual Transmission”). If these steps are taken and meet Puerto Rico will be able to control and prevent many Zika

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