Question

In 2016, Zika became such a concern that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created a website dedicated to the disease. Explore the Zika virus website and read the four main sections: Overview, What You Need to Know, Questions About Zika, and What the CDC Is Doing.

Part A: In one paragraph, how would you summarize the major causes, risks, and effects of Zika virus to someone who has never heard about the condition?

Answer 1

The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites and can also be transmitted through sexual contact, from mother to baby during pregnancy, or through a blood transfusion. Most individuals experience mild symptoms, but pregnant women are at risk of giving birth to babies with microcephaly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Zika virus is an emerging arboviral disease that is primarily transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact, from mother to baby during pregnancy, or through a blood transfusion. Most individuals infected with Zika virus experience mild symptoms such as fever, rash, muscle and joint pain, and headache. However, pregnant women infected with Zika virus are at risk of giving birth to babies with a serious birth defect called microcephaly, which is characterized by an abnormally small head and brain.