What is Zika fever?
Q: What is Zika fever?
A: Zika fever is an illness caused by the Zika virus, which belongs to the genus Flavivirus.
Q: What are the symptoms of Zika fever?
A: Most people who get the virus (60-80%) have no symptoms, but those who do usually experience a low fever, conjunctivitis, joint pain (mainly in hands and feet), and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually last 2-7 days.
Q: When did an outbreak of Zika virus occur in Brazil?
A: An outbreak of Zika virus began in Brazil in 2015.
Q: How can pregnant women be affected by the Zika virus?
A: Scientists think that when a woman with the Zika virus is pregnant, she can give it to her fetus, which can cause microcephaly--a birth defect that causes a baby to have a smaller head than usual and can lead to intellectual disability and other brain problems like seizures.
Q: What countries should pregnant women avoid due to risk of getting infected with the Zika Virus?
A: Pregnant women should avoid traveling to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique Mexico Panama Paraguay Suriname Venezuela or Puerto Rico due to risk of getting infected with the Zika Virus.
Q: Are there any other risks associated with living in areas where there is active transmission of the Zika Virus?
A: In places where there is active transmission of the Zika Virus people may be more likely to have birth defects neurological problems like Guillain-Barré syndrome and autoimmune diseases.
