Working Toward a Zika Vaccine Before it Hits the US Mainland

The Zika virus was discovered nearly 70 years ago.

Pregnant woman or woman trying to get pregnant should not travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

Brazil has been worst affected by the outbreak, followed by Colombia, but more than 20 other countries have seen cases.

As many as 1.5 million Brazilians may have been infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus and now the USA and other countries are also reporting new cases.

The virus’ symptoms tend to be slight, and include fever, rash, pain or conjunctivitis. Apart from its possible effects on pregnancy, doctors generally classify the virus as a mild illness that clears up within a week or so.

“Following these protections is important for individuals, especially pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, who are planning to travel to areas where we know the Zika virus is now a threat”, said Megan Sheppard, Health Officer of the Cumberland County Department of Health.

“We’re cooperating with schools to clean up the environment and eliminate the nests of the mosquitoes”, he explained. Currently, people in the continental United States can only contract Zika if they travel to an area with a Zika epidemic. An increase in microcephaly was noted during an outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil in 2015. Infants with microcephaly have smaller than normal heads and their brains do not develop properly. This rare neurological disorder is thought to be a complication associated with the Zika virus.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to avoid contracting the virus; just like West Nile or Chikungunya, the best way to prevent yourself from getting Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, meaning it can be hard to tell if a pregnant woman has been infected.

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In the US, researchers have two potential candidates for a Zika vaccine and may begin clinical trials in people by the end of this year, but a vaccine will not be available for public use for several years, officials recently announced.