Zika Virus spreads panic

How much of a threat is the Zika virus? For anyone who does not know the virus was discovered in 1947 in a Ugandan forest called Zika, hence the name’s origins. Only 68 years later, it caused a major outbreak in the Western Hemisphere starting in Brazil and moving north to Mexico and, just recently, the Americas. It is transmitted by mosquitoes when they bite a human and it channels through the bloodstream. It may cause pain in the back of the eyes, joints and muscles. Infected may experience the chills, fatigue, a fever, loss of appetite or sweating.

To make matters even worse, it can be transmitted through sexual contact. If female’s get pregnant with the virus in their system, the offspring could be born with microcephaly, which causes a baby to be born with a smaller than average head. For anyone who is planning on having a baby, it would be best not to travel to South America until the disease dies down which may not be anytime soon. This has caused many problems for Brazil as they are holding the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Several U.S. athletes have said they will not go if the Zika virus is still a major problem during competition. This problem will probably steer most away from attending the Olympics this year, not just from America, but worldwide people are afraid of getting the disease in an area that is heavily infested with Zika mosquitoes.

Recently, there were two reported positive cases of the Zika virus in residents of Hartselle. The chances of someone in Huntsville who does not travel there acquiring the virus are pretty slim. It may become a bigger problem in the future, but at the moment it is not a big deal for anyone who does not go past our southern border.

Going forward, our government should put forth health examinations for anyone entering the country from areas known to have any sized outbreak of the Zika virus. Keeping it from becoming widespread in America is important and once we have it contained completely, our scientists can focus on finding ways to helping the infected and possibly eliminating it from every country the virus currently inhabits.