Zika Virus
What Is The Zika Virus?
Zika is a new disease which a lot of people are starting to worry about. The Zika virus is usually spread when people are bit by an Aedes mosquito. Sometimes it takes awhile until a person thats infected starts having symptoms. When they do though, it is usually a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. But the terrible thing about Zika is that it can cause birth defects like Microcephaly and other brain damaging defects.
What Are Scientists Doing To Fight And Prevent Zika?
Scientists are currently doing laboratory tests to diagnose and examine Zika. Although they are still trying to find a cure, support is coming from many different countries. They are transporting diagnostic kits and personnel to help the fight. They currently don't have a vaccination for Zika, but they are working on other ways to prevent it. The fight against Zika is still a fairly new one, but scientists are working hard so that it won't be a long one.
Zika and GMOs
Scientists are trying to find solutions on how to get rid of the Zika virus. One way scientists might be able to do it is through the use of GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. These GMO mosquitos would mate with the Zika mosquitos, but the offspring of these mosquitos would die as larvae. If it worked correctly no more Zika mosquitoes could be reproduced. In the long run though, one negative effect might be that the species of mosquitos that carries Zika might be extinct, causing changes in the food chain and ecosystems.
Bibliography
"New Scientist | Science News and Science Articles from New Scientist."New Scientist. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2016
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 May 2016. Web. 15 May 2016.