Categories: Post

Zika Virus: The Facts, The Fears and The Future

The current Zika Virus epidemic first began in Brazil last year, and has since spread to more than 25 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. With the World Health Organization declaring the virus to be a “public health emergency of international concern,” the CDC, along with state and local public health departments are bracing for potential cases of local transmission in the U.S. Illinois has already had 16 travel-associated cases of Zika, and now that the summer mosquito season is about to begin, what can we do to protect ourselves from Zika? Learn more about what we know about Zika—how the disease is spread, what the symptoms are, and how scientists have determined the link between the virus and a birth defect called microcephaly. This episode of Medill Newsmakers will also look toward the future—how public health officials and scientists are preventing further spread of the virus, and how the virus may impact the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

c2st

Recent Posts

Tornado Terrain: Why is the US a Twister Hotspot?

On a warm February night not too long ago, tornado storms swept through my college…

6 days ago

Navigating the Storm: Understanding El Niño’s Role in Midwest Weather

If you live in the Midwest, you may have noticed that the weather has been…

2 weeks ago

Blood Sugar: How it Works and Why it’s Important

The terms “blood sugar” and “insulin” are thrown around quite a bit in our world.…

3 weeks ago

The Dynamics of DNA: How Scientists are Translating Genes into Symphonies

The beat of your heart, the grumbling of your stomach, the whisper of air traveling…

4 weeks ago

Diary of a Memory T cell: A Tale of Three Stem Cells

In a world of modern science, few discoveries hold as much promise and intrigue as…

1 month ago

Closeup on Carp: CO2 for Ecological Innovation

You’re likely familiar with the frowned-upon chemical compound carbon dioxide, CO2-- a dangerous greenhouse gas…

1 month ago