During these past few weeks, there have been several headlines warning people of the new disease spreading to America, along with shocking images of its suspected victims: babies being born with “shrunken heads.” Pregnant women have been advised to not travel to affected countries, and the world has started to panic over this pandemic, but what exactly is the Zika Virus?

What We Know So Far

• Zika is a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is linked to over a thousand of birth defect cases. (Public health experts also caution that there is no definitive proof that the Zika virus is responsible for these birth defects)
• For many of the infected people, Zika symptoms are mild. However, pregnant women who are exposed seem to have a higher risk of having a child with microcephaly (Infants with microcephaly are born with either a normal or reduced head size).
• This virus has been spreading across South and Central America at a fast rate.
• There is currently no cure for this disease.
• Zika-linked microcephaly has been declared a global health emergency.
• Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica have advised women to delay pregnancy for as long as they can.
• Brazil has warned pregnant women against attending the Rio Olympics.

Zika-Linked Birth Defects Declared A Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the birth defects cases linked to the Zika virus an international health emergency (up to 4 million cases estimated for the Americas in the next year).The tropical virus is spread by mosquitoes and scientists are investigating its link to an epidemic of birth defects in Brazil.

The WHO had already warned that the virus will likely spread to every country in North and South America, except for Canada and Chile, where it is too cold.

The WHO has cautioned that while there was no definitive proof that the Zika virus is responsible for the birth defects, such as abnormally small heads.

CHICAGO — City health officials say Zika virus poses “no significant risk” to Chicago.

There are three confirmed cases in Illinois, including two pregnant women.

They contracted the virus while traveling.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued travel notices for impacted countries, mostly in South and Central America and the Caribbean. The CDC is currently advising pregnant women or women who can become pregnant to reconsider traveling to countries affected by the virus, and is expected to release more guidelines regarding the sexual transmission of the virus.

For more information click on: City of Chicago, Get the Facts: Zika