The Zika virus is spread through mosquitoes, more specifically Aedes mosquitoes. The name Zika comes from the Zika forest in Uganda. The Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in monkeys and apes, but the first human cases of Zika appeared in 1952 in areas ranging from Africa to Asia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The classification of this virus belongs to the Flavivirus family. Flaviviruses are a group of RNA viruses that cause human disease. Other common viruses of the flavivirus family are yellow fever and West Nile virus. Yellow fever is a virus that affects the kidneys and liver, causing often fatal jaundice and fever. West Nile virus is a virus that causes encephalitis and flu-like symptoms. Flaviviruses also belong to a larger group known as arboviruses, meaning they are transmitted to humans through a bite or via infected arthropods, the most common arthropods being mosquitoes and ticks. The hosts of the Zika virus are the mosquitoes, monkeys and primates that lived in the Zika forest in Uganda and, of course, humans. The most common way of transmitting the virus is that mosquitoes spread the virus by feeding on monkeys, apes and humans. . Another way the virus can spread is through sexual contact, but most commonly through mosquito bites. Another way is for a pregnant woman to pass it on to her baby during conception; it can cause microcephaly, which is an abnormally small brain and incomplete brain development, as well as other serious birth defects. You can also get the Zika virus through any blood contact with another person who has the Zika virus, such as blood transfusions. Symptoms of the Zika virus consist of fever, rash, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis, which is red eyes, and muscle pain. These symptoms can last several days or even a week. People who have been infected rarely go to hospital, very rarely die from the Zika virus, only in very severe cases. Another problem that can occur with the Zika virus is Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a very rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. Symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome are muscle weakness and tingling in the legs and arms. In truly severe cases a person can become completely paralyzed and all respiratory muscles can be affected, resulting in hospitalization. There is no cure for the Zika virus yet, but work is currently being done on a cure. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says it has entered the second phase of producing a DNA vaccine to protect against Zika. By 2019 it is expected to have an effective vaccine to treat the Zika virus. There are treatments you can do to cure Zika such as lots of rest, constant hydration, taking medicines such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or tylenol. The Zika virus has had a huge impact in the United States as the epidemic in 2016. It has spread to thirty-two countries, some being Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. This was a big problem in Brazil, because the Olympics and Paralympics were held there in 2016 and all the international travelers and even competitors had to worry about getting affected by the Zika virus. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency and the Center for Control and Prevention.