A researcher from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) collects insect traps at the Zika Forest in Entebbe, south of Uganda’s capital Kampala March 2, 2016. In these experiments, the virus infected the majority of the neural progenitor cells resulting in the death of one-third of the cells. However, there was little research to support the claim that Zika causes microcephaly until a group of scientists from Johns Hopkins, Florida State and Emory Universities discovered that the virus affects a type of brain tissue.
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The Mississippi State Department of Health has confirmed its first case of Zika virus in Madison County.
The lead researcher also added that they checked the numbers of passengers embarking from countries that have recorded Zika transmission in the last few years and those who came from Brazil. Questions about whether a women should wait before getting pregnant after visiting a Zika endemic area and for how long, are some of the questions global health researchers are investigating.
While the Aedes aegypti, the particularly species carrying the virus, are now more common in South America, the mosquito may soon spread in humid states, such as Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California.
Another speculation making rounds in the internet is that Zika virus was propagated in the course of the World Sprint Championship canoe race in 2014 has also been rejected.
“In less than a year, the status of Zika has changed from a mild medical curiosity to a disease with severe public health implications”, said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director-general.
To date, no resident in Vietnam has reported testing positive for the Zika virus.
While Brazilian health officials reported a large number of illnesses that consisted of fevers and rashes in late 2014, it wasn’t until May 2015 that these patients were diagnosed with Zika.
Scientists said the study presents valuable findings as Brazil’s overstretched health service grapples with twin outbreaks of Zika and the birth defect microcephaly.
Highly populated areas, such as New York City, is also prone to the virus, due to people traveling and visiting from countries with Zika outbreaks.
“We have measures which we can take to respond to cases of Zika and we advise people on reducing breeding sites for the mosquitoes but it may not be possible to prevent transmission of Zika in the future in North Queensland”.
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The kind of mosquito that spreads Zika is found on the southern United States, so experts think it’s likely the pests will spread the virus there, too. Birth defects had not been noticed before in Zika outbreaks, but this is by far the biggest one, hitting a huge population that has no immunity at all to the virus, so effects will be more obvious.
