The Zika Virus

Lynne

Natasha discussed the recent Zika outbreak in the Night Owls' session.

http://learn-english-forum.org/discussion/3454/night-owls-1-february-2016-should-we-eradicate-all-mosquitoes#latest

Zom

@Tiago, Do you mean that some passengers on a flight to Brazil during the Fifa WorldCup carried the disease, after landing a few mosquitoes got a blood fix and now Brazil is in big troubles?

Steve

Hey Guys, Let's talks about current mosquitoes bites in Brazil leading to babies who borned with an abnormal small size head. What do you thinks about the predicament there? It's possible that it turned into an outbreak?

ManLearner

Hi @Steve I think there are chances for outbreak if it is not controlled in time. I don't have much knowledge about it, but I'll search and discuss here. By the way we have discussed a topic in Monday night owl session in skype.

Steve

Hi @ManLearner, I got this info not so long ago: One case of Zika virus has been recorded in USA; and it has been transmitted after a sexual intercourse.

Steve

Zika Virus is taking greater proportion.

Rema

@Steve I also have found the same information: Health officials in Texas on Tuesday confirmed a case of sexually transmitted Zika.

Steve

Apparently under the go ahead of the WHO, Sanofi Laboratory in France is trying to set up a vaccine against Zika.

Lynne

Can I just say, zika is not a new disease: It has been in Africa and Asia for decades. Only recently has the link been made between zika and Guillain-Barrê syndrome, and microcephaly.

This infographic might help:-

http://www.english-magazine.org/english-reading/english-for-science-technology/3962-science-article-zika-virus

Advanced reading:-

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V19N09/art20720.pdf

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/zika-microcephaly-Brazil-rapid-risk-assessment-Nov-2015.pdf

Bubbly

Not a news for me as we are already facing health issues due to Dengue virus. I think, giving mere name to these viruses is not enough. I wonder why every virus originates from Africa!

I think we should not forget the commercial aspects as well like after ebola now it zika and what's next!?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35529348

kindgnice

Dengue Fever, Zika & Chikungunya

http://www.arphs.govt.nz/health-information/communicable-disease/dengue-fever-zika-chikungunya