– Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada
Watch this latest video on Zika virus.
Last year, it was Ebola virus that causes a global alarm and anxiety. Now it is Zika virus.
The World Health Organization is scrambling to address this virus that's spreading rapidly through Latin America and the Caribbean. The virus has been linked to birth defects and, in adults, to a type of paralysis. Experts have lots of unanswered questions, as do ordinary citizens who spoke to VOA. More from health reporter Carol Pearson…
Thus, it emerges that this is causing alarm in Latin America. Many cases of newborn babies born with micro-cephaly (with the smaller size of the head) have been attributed to this virus.
But wait a minute!
Scientists say, they are not yet sure whether Zika virus is to be directly blamed for causing micro-cephaly (causal relationship) or is it something else (other factors) that are playing a role.
Zika virus is transmitted through mosquitoes. Thus, avoiding mosquito-bite is the way to prevent it. This virus can also be transmitted through sex.
Here is an update from Center for Disease Control (CDC) on the areas/countries affected by Zika Virus (as of February 2016):