The Zika virus seems to have come out of nowhere, but in reality it has been documented since the early 20th century. So why has it been in the news recently? Once it spread to Brazil, the Ministry of Health linked it to microcephaly- a severe birth defect. Since then, health departments around the world have taken up arms against Zika and the mosquito that carries it. Check out the infographic for more information about Zika!
Additional Resources:
- European Centre for Disease Control: Zika fact sheet
- Possible sexual transmission of the Zika virus
- WHO Overview of Zika
- CDC Information Page on the Zika Virus
Image Sources:
- Aedes aegypti mosquito: By James Gathany [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This article was produced as part of our STEM outreach series at Ricochet Creative Productions. If you would like more information on this series, or how you can participate, please contact us.
Kim Scott is a sophomore at Western Carolina University where she is studying for a career in nursing. Kim is also one of the instructional designers at Ricochet Creative Productions.
