Lateka Williams

Ms. Crist
English 4
September 28, 2016
Zika Virus
Imagine being pregnant and not being able to walk around outside without the
fear of being bitten by an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Zika Virus is an epidemic
that is happening in todays world. More and more people are becoming infected with it
each. This virus mostly affects pregnant mothers and their babies. If a mother gets
bitten by the mosquito their child will be born with microcephaly(a small head resulting
in incomplete brain development) . Which comes with a lot of complications for the child.
Vaccines are currently being tested on animals to see which one will become the cure
for the Zika Virus. It is essential for vaccines to be created because the Zika Virus is
very dangerous and if a pregnant mothers gets bitten then it will affect the baby for the
rest of his/her life.
In 1947, the Zika Virus was first discovered in a monkey, by a scientist that
was studying the yellow fever a Uganda forest. However, it was not until 1964 that the
first case was discovered in a human. The man that was infected started developing
pinkish rash over his body but this came without pain. During April to July of 2007 the
first major outbreak in humans occur in the Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia.
There were 185 suspected cases but only 49 were confirmed. No deaths were reported.
Brazil also has a large number of confirmed Zika Virus cases. They also saw an
increase in babies being born with Microcephaly so the CDC (Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention) took brain tissue samples from two Brazilian babies who died
within a day of birth. They found that the babies were born with the Zika Virus. Brazil
had ha deaths caused by this Virus. ("Zika Virus Infection Fast Facts.")
With the Zika Virus spreading to different countries more attention is on
creating a vaccine. At this time if a person contract the Virus can only take a
Paracetamol which will only help those who are not in childbearing, but for a pregnant
mother this will not be able to help her child. To prevent a pregnant woman from
becoming infected and her baby being born with microcephaly (which cause the baby to
have brain damage and be born disable or may not even live,) a vaccine will need to be
created. In the meantime, while efforts are being made to create a vaccine which will at
least take 18 months before it can be tested on a large scale, pregnant mothers are
being encouraged to use insect repellent, covering most of their body with clothing,
using mosquito nets, and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes may
reproduce.
The Zika Virus can be transmitted directly by an infected mosquito bite or sexually if
your partner is already infected. There are reports of the virus spreading through blood
transfusions. To diagnose someone with the virus testing can be done using blood,
urine, or saliva. One in five people do get symptoms, which may include a fever, rash,
joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Symptoms are usually mild, and start 2 to 7 days after
being bitten by an infected mosquito. The symptoms usually lasting for several days or
up to a week. Infected persons usually do not get sick enough to go to the hospital
unless they are in childbearing. So far there has been reports of the virus in the United
States, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, parts of the Caribbean, and Central

and South America ("Zika Virus"). Processes have been put in place that will help to
speed up the research, development and manufacturing process of a vaccine. A
company called Bharat Biotech International (India) reported in February 2016, that it is
working on vaccines for Zika using two approaches: recombinant, involving genetic
engineering, and inactivated, where the virus is incapable of reproducing itself but can
still trigger an immune response. "Zika Virus and Zika Vaccine." However, companies will
still need to build in time for clinical trial to ensure that the vaccine meets certain
standards. Until there is a cure for the Zika Virus, pregnant mothers who get infected
with the virus their babies will continue to be born with microcephaly which will make
them disabled.

Work cited
"Zika Virus Infection Fast Facts." CNN Wire 22 July 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 20 Sept.

2016.

Sample, Ian. "Scientists Edge Closer to Creating Effective Zika Virus Vaccine."The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 04 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.