Is zika virus still a thing?

Zika virus, ah! the name itself sends chills down your spine. A small yet horrible mosquito-borne virus that made many headlines back in 2015-16 placing it on everyone’s radar. The world watched as it rapidly spread from Brazil to other parts of South and Central America eventually reaching the United States. Causing birth defects such as microcephaly among newborns and other neurological disorders like Guillain-Barré syndrome amongst others.

But is this deadly disease still lurking around? What’s happening with Zika nowadays?

What Exactly is Zika Virus

Before we dive deeper into “is zika virus still a thing?”, let’s first understand what exactly Zika Virus is. According to World Health Organization (WHO), ‘Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito’. It can also be transmitted during sex or passed from mother to her baby during pregnancy.

How Did It Suddenly Become Such A Big Issue?

In 2015, there was a huge uptick in reports of babies being born with smaller than expected skull size which developed into significant developmental concerns later on; these were identified as birth defects related to mothers who previously had contracted zika during their pregnancies thus leading countries worldwide issuing travel advisory warnings for pregnant women against visiting affected areas. This caused widespread panic especially given there was no treatment available at that time.

Where Was The Outbreak Happening

The outbreak began spreading lightning fast and took place mostly throughout Latin America including various Carribean nations before quickly making its way up through North America.

Has Anything Changed Since Then?

Thankfully in early part of 2016, WHO declared the end of the zika epidemic after officials reported lower incidence rates globally but some questions remain whether or not our global health infrastructures could cope if or when another major outbreak remerges

Precautionary Measures

As the saying goes “Precaution is better than cure” same applies for Zika virus as well. Taking accurate preventive measures can help you from getting hold of zika virus or other mosquito-borne diseases.

These precautionary steps includes:
– Use mosquito repellants
– Wear full sleeve dresses and pants
– Keep your surrounding area clean and get rid off any stagnant water
– Sensitive individuals should avoid travelling to high-risk areas where an active outbreak is happening.

Lower Risk, But Expect The Unexpected

While new cases are much lower now compared to previous years; there’s still a risk especially if precautions aren’t taken seriously. And since it’s no longer making headlines doesn’t mean the threat has subsided entirely.

Conclusion – Is Zika Virus Still A Thing?

Zika remains a thing but not in prevalence like before, which likely would have been avoided had global circumstances at that time allowed for more centralized public health facilities . However, given its devastating effects on unborn babies coupled with limited treatment options even until this day; we desperately need continued research and funding to combat both established and emerging mosquitoborne illnesses as they present challenges disproportionate to their tiny sizes.

So yeah, while it’s definitely quieter around Zika nowadays which means we’re relatively safer when traveling but who knows what next year may bring! It’s always wise to take all necessary precautions regardless of how bad or good things ‘seem’.

Stay safe out there guys!

Information sourced from CDC .
Information sourced from BBC News .
Image credits:Creative Commons licensed (BY-SA) flickr photo shared byPan American Health Organization PAHO.
Tips borrowed heavily from World Health Organisation guidelines found at https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-zika/prevention/en/.
Heavily dependent on current outbreaks status so take care!

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