ZIKA borlandspring EH2000

Zika is a virus disease that is from a certain mosquito species. This virus was founded many, many years ago in Uganda, in the year 1947. It was actually first found in monkeys there in Uganda that were being monitored for yellow fever. Shortly, about five years later, that is when humans got zika as well and had an outbreak. This disease is transmitted by a mosquito bite of the Aedes species of mosquito's. These mosquito's are found majorly in tropical regions of the world. There is a stronger risk of getting bit by these mosquito's is in the early morning and late evening. Also, it is possible for this to be transmitted through sexual and blood transfusion.

Zika has been found in many places in the world; many which contain warm weather. Zika can be found here in the U.S., South America, Mexico, Cuba, Virgin Islands and many other warm regions in between Mexico and South America. These Mosquito's are attracted to warmer weather regions so places that have warm weather for majority of the year they spread there.

If one was to be concerned that they had Zika virus, they should see if they have these signs and symptoms, which are, fever, rash, conjunctivitis, joint pain are the main symptoms. There is also symptoms are headaches and muscle pain. These symptoms are very mild/common symptoms so it is hard to tell if you have Zika. It as well lasts about a couple days to a week in your blood, and there is  a very low percent people who die from this disease.

If one is to be pregnant and gets infected with Zika, it can be very problematic to the fetus's development inside the womb as well as outside. If a mother to be is bitten by the certain mosquito she should see her doctor immediately to try to help stop spread the disease since it will travel to the fetus through the blood stream. If it gets to the fetus, there are birth defects that would affect the baby drastically. One birth defect the fetus could receive from Zika is microcephaly, which broken down means a smaller head. This will affect the growth of the babies head and the brain as well would be smaller in size. Also another side effect with having a mother to be infected with zika is the congenital zika syndrome, which contains following symptoms;

• Severe microcephaly where the skull has partially collapsed
• Decreased brain tissue with a specific pattern of brain damage
• Damage to the back of the eye
• Joints with limited range of motion, such as clubfoot
• Too much muscle tone restricting body movement soon after birth

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease and Prevention, 17 Jan.

2017. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.)

How to prevent oneself to not be infected with this disease is by trying your best to avoid getting bitten by mosquito's, making sure not having sexual relations with someone else who is carrying the zika disease, and to make sure always wear mosquito protection spray and be careful to were you travel and be aware to where you travel and if it has or had zika virus there before so you can prepare yourself. 

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for zika virus and no treatment for zika, which is why being precautions of this disease and mosquito's is very important. 

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305163.php

Word Count: 503 (excluding the bullet points from CDC)

  

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