The Zika virus is a virus that attacks the joints of the person who has it. Other symptoms that people affected by the Zika virus have are red eyes, fever and rashes. This virus lasts for several days to a week. To most people’s surprise, the Zika virus is usually not serious enough to go to the hospital and very rarely is fatal. The first Zika virus was found in 1947. The name Zika comes from the Zika forest in Uganda. Before 2014, there were 14 cases of the Zika virus that were documented.

On February 1^st, 2016 the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. Some experts claim that the spread of the Zika virus is caused somewhat by the climate changing. The main spread of the Zika virus is getting bit by an Aedes mosquito.  If a woman gets bit by the mosquito then the child she is carrying could have birth defects. It is safe to say that you do not want to contract this virus.

This last outbreak is one of the worst that the world has seen as far as the Zika virus. The latest outbreak started in Brazil. There have been confirmed issues in other areas as well and precautions should always be taken.