Zika Virus Dbq

A “virus” is defined as: “an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by a light microscope, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host” (Document B). Originating from Uganda, the Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in an infected money in the Zika forest, where its name originates. The Zika virus is a typical one-stranded RNA virus with nucleotide sequences relating it to other African and Asian virus strains. It is capable of infecting other species such as monkeys, elephants, lions, zebras, and rodents. Primates, like humans and monkeys, are known to be the primary hosts and reservoirs. What people should realize is that the international transmission of Zika from South America by mosquitoes and infected people has led to the maiming of newborn babies throughout the world, but you can help prevent this while protecting yourself from its harm. The primary sources of transmission of the virus is through the Aedes africanus mosquitoes and humans. A local transmission cycle is formed between humans and mosquitoes. When a human is infected by mosquitoes, other mosquitoes carry the virus when they bite the infected human. As stated in Document E, Zika is an arbovirus, meaning that it is “one of many that are spread by insects such as mosquitoes and ticks.” This makes it so that the virus is easily able to be spread through international travel since mosquitoes from other regions of the world can receive the virus through an infected human, thus continually spreading it. What makes Zika so particularly dangerous and frightening is its symptoms. On the surface, it seems like any other virus with symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, conjunctivitis, joint and muscle pain, or exhibiting no symptoms at all. What lies underneath is its ability to cause severe neurological complicated (in some rare cases) and microcephaly. As defined by Document E, microcephaly is a birth defect that leave newborn babies with abnormally small heads and partially developed brains. This is extremely dangerous, because it results in newborn babies that will have developmental and health issues for the rest of their lives as a result of not being able to fully develop their heads inside the womb. The high rate of microcephaly cases in newborn babies is why the Zika virus is such a threat to pregnant women throughout the women the world. In the past two years there has been an epidemic spread of the Zika virus in South America. …show more content…
Originating in Brazil, the virus survives year-round in over half of the country while remaining seasonal throughout the rest of South America (Document A). International travel from South America to other countries has spread the virus to every continent with confirmed cases in 43 other countries (Document A, Document C). With the US alone taking in over 2 million travelers from Brazil over a year, Zika has been spreading like wildfire (Document A). On February 1st of 2016, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern because of the threat that microcephaly poses. The main way of protection against Zika is preventing mosquito bites, since there is currently no effective vaccine for the virus. The Center For Disease Control recommends wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants, treating clothing and gear with