Health Officials in Puerto Rico have reported their first case of Zika, a dangerous mosquito-borne virus that spreads to humans. Citizens of Puerto Rico have since been in a panic.
Zika is linked to microcephaly, a neurological disorder that affects newborns and their development, which has recently been on the rise. Even though it is a dangerous disease, the Congressman of Puerto Rico ensures that there is no need for panic.
“There is no reason for alarm, and the public should continue to take common sense steps go avoid mosquito bites.”
The Congressman adds that he is expecting experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to visit the island to educate physicians about the virus and how to accurately diagnose and treat it.
Despite the Congressman claiming that there is no need for alarm, the CDC does issue a warning to future and current tourists of Puerto Rico, especially pregnant women. Residents of the island should keep in mind that the mosquitoes that carry the virus usually survive in tropical climate and typically claim territory around buildings in urban areas.
The mosquitoes are known to bite aggressively during the day, and attack at night. The symptoms are surprisingly mild.The symptoms include a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes of conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Unfortunately, the disease is not yet curable and there are no vaccines to prevent it.
Zika is not a new virus. It hit Brazil in early 2015, but has been around since the 1940s, according to CNN. Brazil’s Health Ministry website notes that:
“This is an unprecedented situation, unprecedented in world scientific research.”
Brazil warns citizens to protect themselves against mosquitoes by wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants that are thick enough so that the mosquitoes can’t easily bite through them.
