Zika virus has been a huge scare lately, especially for pregnant women. Threats of the virus have made it impossible for some pregnant women to travel overseas. Fortunately, Goethe University in Germany has conducted a study tracking the prevalence of the virus in Latin America.
Furthermore, the research comes at a crucial time. France reported their first-ever Zika case in August. Goethe University’s research tracks where Zika virus is the biggest threat. As a result of this, it will help people make informed decisions on where to travel.
The researchers will use their results to gather more information about the growing problem in Europe, according to EurekAlert. Officials fear a larger outbreak of the virus in Europe due to climate change, according to CNN. Before now, there it never posed much of a threat to the world. It is now in about 90 countries, according to the Center for Disease Control.
The warmer temperatures make the virus easier to spread, which is another aspect the new research focuses on. Mosquitos typically thrive in warmer environments.
At the moment, there is no vaccine for Zika, so the CDC recommends using caution when visiting countries where the risks of getting it are high. They recommend wearing shirts and pants with long sleeves. Pregnant women should not travel to countries with a high risk for the infection. Safety precautions should also be taken during sexual activity, since the virus can be spread through semen.
For more information about the virus, click here:
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/needtoknow.html
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/07/health/zika-europe-cases-scn-intl/index.html
To learn more about the research, click here:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/guf-htz111119.php
For more information on a groundbreaking vaccine for malaria, click here:
https://americanmedicalcompliance.com/malaria-vaccine-being-tested/
