Mosquitos Are More Than Just a Pesky Insect When warm weather comes; many dread the big itchy mosquito bites that come with it. However, this year, the itchy bite is not the only thing mosquitos are bringing. Zika is a disease primarily spread by an infected mosquito. When males are infected with the disease, they will have mild symptoms to none. However, for pregnant women, Zika has a much greater fear, as it can lead to birth defects and even cases of death of newborn babies ("Center" 1). The U. S. is working to spread awareness about the disease to be able to protect people and save lives.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, is helping to save lives and protect people by spreading information about the disease. The CDC states that "Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito" ("Center" 1). Zika can be spread through mosquito bites, from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and through sex ("Center" 1).
The symptoms of Zika are very subtle. When infected, the most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes ("Center 1"). Symptoms are mild and may only last for a week. Therefore, many people are unaware that they have the disease ("Center" 1). If one develops symptoms, a blood test can determine if the virus is infecting the person ("Center" 1). However, there is no medication or vaccinations for Zika ("Center" 1). Treating the mild symptoms with acetaminophen to reduce pain and fever is recommended ("Center" 1). Knowing you have the virus will only help protect you from future Zika infections ("Center" 1).
There are many health effects and risks that come with Zika. One main concern deals with pregnancy. Zika can lead to birth defects and other serious pregnancy problems. One major birth defect is microcephaly, which is when a baby's head is not proportionate to the average baby's ("Center" 1). A baby's head grows when its brain grows, but when a baby has microcephaly, their brain will not develop properly, so its head does not continue to grow ("Center" 1). Also, many countries have found an increase in people with Guillain-Barre syndrome after the Zika outbreak. Gillian-Barre syndrome is a sickness of the nervous system. When a person's immune system interferes with their nerve cells they may encounter muscle weakness, which can ultimately lead to paralysis ("Center" 1).
Zika outbreaks have occurred in multiple countries and in United States territories. It has been found in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Pacific Islands, and the islands of the Americas ("Center" 1). The CDC has recommended to people living or traveling to any countries that have known Zika outbreaks to take precautions. They recommend wearing insect repellent, staying indoors, and avoiding traveling to these areas if you are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant ("Center" 1). The CDC states that there have been a total of 30, 178 cases in the United States territories ("Center" 1).
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