Zika virus – A threat to the world?

Here is the new danger for our future generations. A deadly virus called Zika has been spreading rapidly across the globe. The virus which was once confined to a few areas in Africa has now reached the US. A few cases were found to be positive in US with Zika virus. The virus would spread along with the bite of Aedes mosquitoes which are also the carriers for dengue and chikungunya virus. The Zika virus is not life threatening, it would cause symptoms like fever and joint pains which could stay for a few days. But the real threat is its affect on the pregnant women. If a woman acquires the virus while she is pregnant, the baby in her womb would be severely affected by the virus. The baby could be born with a defective brain.

Zika virus which was first identified in 1947 at Uganda is now causing havoc in the Latin American countries. In Brazil alone, more than 4000 babies were affected by the virus since last October. The American countries were so scared that Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica has even recommended people to delay pregnancies till a solution is found. Unlike other mosquitoes, Aedes bite us during the day time. With no safeguards such as mosquito nets and repellents during the day time, it would be an easy bite for them. With no vaccination or drugs to prevent or control the virus, Zika is certainly going to be the threat of the future. But here is a more disturbing fact. Brazil is going to host the 2016 Olympics which would attract millions of tourists from all over the world!!!