Zika Virus Research Paper

Because Rio is holding the 2016 Olympics, people are now questioning whether the event is a hot button for a Zika outbreak. The U.S. Olympic Committee said there might be a risk, but don’t recommend that athletes concerned about their health should consider not attending the games. Zika virus outbreaks are spreading rapidly throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America. Zika virus is an important social issue. Some important questions about the Zika virus are: what is the origin of the Zika virus, what is Zika virus and how does it affect people, and what can be done to prevent becoming infected with Zika.
Zika virus, which traces back 69 years ago, has many parts to it. It was discovered in 1947, in Uganda’s Zika Forest. While …show more content…
For a normal non-pregnant person the symptoms are mild. 20% of people infected with Zika will get sick. The effects consists of a fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, and red eyes. Since the effects are mild, many people do not realize they are infected. The symptoms usually lasts for 2-7 days. So far hospitalization rates remain low. The World Health Organization said no deaths have been reported from Zika. For a non-pregnant person the symptoms are manageable, but with pregnant women the symptoms could be a lot more serious. Zika can be spread from a mother to her baby during her pregnancy. This causes the baby to have a birth defect called microcephaly. Researchers have not nailed down the connection between microcephaly and the virus and need more studies to figure out the relationship. Microcephaly causes a baby to have a small head and underdeveloped brain. No one has died from microcephaly so far, but children with microcephaly may have a shortened life span. Another effect Zika brings is the idea of a relationship with a syndrome. Though scientists do not know for a fact if Guillain-Barré syndrome and Zika have a connection, they think it might be a possibility. Guillain-Barré is a sickness of the nervous system. It is caused by the immune system damaging the nerve cells. The symptoms are weakness of the arms and legs. Sometimes it also causes facial muscle, eye movement, and

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