Health News: Zika Virus Linked to Infant Microcephaly in Brazil
First discovered in Uganda in 1947, the Zika virus has recently been linked to babies born with abnormally tiny heads in Brazil, and what's worse is the virus is rapidly advancing towards other regions across the world, threatening other pregnant mothers and people who are potentially exposed to the risks.
Zika virus is transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite. The mosquito that carries dengue fever, chikungunya virus, and yellow fever bites a person infected with Zika then transfers the viruses to other people. While there have been small outbreaks in Africa, the virus started spreading in 2007 to the South Pacific.
The Zika scare started in May 2015 when Brazil reported its first case. Multiple health and science outlets report that almost 3,000 babies were born with microcephaly in the country. Microcephaly is a condition that could eventually lead to brain damage, and while the connection between microcephaly and Zika virus is still a blur to scientists and researchers, the Brazilian government believes that the virus is responsible for the abnormal births.
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According to WebMD, the government has advised its women to "avoid pregnancy" until such time that the Zika scare is out of the country and is no longer a threat to the unborn child.
Scientific American details the story of baby Luiza, who was born in October 2015 with microcephaly. Luiza's mother, Angelica Pereira, was infected with the Zika virus when she was pregnant, and health authorities in Brazil strongly believe that Luiza's rare condition has a connection to the infection that her mother contracted while she was still in the womb.
It should be noted, though, that Brazil's researchers and health experts are still unsure of how the Zika virus is able to affect the baby's development in the womb. On the other hand, the country was able to obtain evidence that Zika is present in the amniotic fluid of two expectant moms whose babies have been diagnosed with microcephaly inside the womb.
Little is known about Zika, especially due to the difficulty in detecting antibodies for Zika. The antibodies are very similar to those for dengue and yellow fever — two viruses that are common in Brazil.
A lot of people who have been infected with the virus remain unaware of their condition, but experts suggest that people who experience fever, rashes, joint pains, conjunctivitis, and even pinkeye should consult a doctor.
