Zika Virus

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Epidemic is defined as a sudden rise of symptoms or diseases in an area or a region that may spread to other population (Anomaly, 2014). Zika virus may be called an epidemic because many countries have experienced this mosquito-borne illness. There have not been many positive results that would be about to help preventing it. This paper discusses about Zika’s causes and effects.

The rise of Zika virus is caused by environmental factors, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. According to David Sanders (2016) Zika virus outbreaks happen if the health of the country’s citizens are not properly attended with indigent health services. Moreover, it gives space for the virus to spread without anyone knowing. As the result, the people who live in a particular community will not have any knowledge of how to prevent or cure Zika. Therefore, according to Duffy MR (2009), Africa and South-East Africa have shown signs of human spread, however, the first outbreak was found on the island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. As a result, Africa or South-East Asia are places where people have unhealthy living conditions. Furthermore, Duffy MR reports that approximately of 73% of population was infected. As a result of bad environment, since 2007, Chile and Brazil have major cases occur. One direct cause of the spread of Zika virus is the increasing amount of mosquitoes in such environment as well as the area’s population. For example in African nations, large numbers of people lead to poorer living conditions such as lack of sleeping nets at night. The consequence of this is that more people will be bitten by mosquitoes that carry Zika virus. When one mosquito sucks the blood from a person that suffers Zika virus, it may carry and transmit the disease to others easily. Therefore, this is undoubted a serious problem in all over the world.

The effects of Zika virus are serious. Firstly, those, who are bitten by mosquitoes having Zika virus in their systems, will be infected. This, not only affects physical conditions of people living in the region, also takes human life. If infected people are not treated properly, deaths may not be avoided. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the disease include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and headache. In general, people in underdeveloped countries may not consider those symptoms to be serious because they are similar to regular sickness. Consequently, they spread the virus to others in the family without notice. WHO reported that during the first outbreak in 2007 on the island of Yap, 73% of residents were infected (Beck, 2016). By the beginning of 2016, Brazil alone has 440,000 – 1,300,000 cases of Zika virus (WHO, 2016). A more serious effect of Zika is microcephaly for new-born children. The reason for this is that their mothers are infected Zika virus as they are pregnant. Microcephaly might cause severe delays in the development of children or affect organs of the body significantly. Some doctors believe there are physiological effects of the virus (Beck, 2016). However, these are not the only reasons that Zika virus should be concerned.

Zika might indirectly affect the economic growth of the country. Children with microcephaly need special healthcare because of delays in normal development. The number of talents will decrease in the future due to microcephaly. Those infected with microcephaly tend to experience low productivity, leading to lack of competences in the labor market when they are older (     ). The disability in physical and mental conditions is related to fewer opportunities for quality education, proper employment and extra costs for their families (                     ). In some cases, some households may suffer from large expenses for healthcare. This pattern will be circulated until Zika virus outbreak is attended properly. In addition to that, countries which are classified as having Zika virus outbreak may not have tourists coming in (    ). Therefore, the epidemic may  result in long-term impacts on the next generations. The prevention of the disease also cost the governments a large amount of money. They spend money finding ways to prevent mosquitoes. Besty states that, “Mosquito surveillance and control is the key to preventing Zika infection”. In order to prevent Zika, people need to find ways to thoroughly lessen the amount of mosquitoes. Moreover, they need to have necessary knowledge to recognize the symptoms of Zika virus and have proper treatments.