Zika Virus Research Paper

Words: 766
Pages: 4

Zika virus is a virus spread from the bite of a Aedes species mosquito that is infected. Zika virus symptoms can include fever, joint pain, rash, and red eyes. The symptoms can last from a couple days to a week from when the bite from the infected mosquito took place. It is harder to detect the virus because it is hard to identify that they have been infected since it looks like a common flu. Most people don't get hospitalized, and few die from this virus. Also, once a person has been infected it is unlikely that they will ever get it again. However, there has been two documented cases where this disease has been sexually transmitted. Zika can be diagnosed through laboratory testing through blood, urine or saliva. That is the only way that …show more content…
Multiple Zika patients in Brazil have also gotten a rare autoimmune condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. This disease can cause short-term paralysis. This means someone could become paralyzed for a period of time while they have Zika. Most of the people that get this gain full mobility in a few weeks. Although, if the paralysis affects their breathing it could become fatal.
As these summer temperatures rise, so does the risk of Zika. The hotter it gets the easier it is for the mosquito that carries Zika is at transmitting all of its dangerous illnesses. The higher temperatures lead the mosquitoes to feed more. This makes it much easier to catch Zika. The virus also replicates with the warmer temperatures causing mosquitoes to transmit the disease in their earlier stages of life.
Many people are worried about the 2016 olympics. Thousands of people are going to attend Rio for the games in August. Although many people are worried that this is just a time bomb waiting for a major outbreak. The U.S. Olympic Committee made a statement saying that there is a potential risk for the employees and sport leaders but that the athletes should not be concerned. Although, they are going to be taking many precautions to prevent an outbreak there is still