Zika virus

 zika months of diseases that recently spread virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the

virus family Flaviviridae and thegenus Flavivirus

^[3] It is spread by daytime-active 

Aedes mosquitoes, such as A

. aegypti and A. albopictus.^[3] Its 

name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda

 where the virus was first isolated in 1947.^[4

^] Zika virus is related to thedengue, yellow fever,

 Japanese encephalitis, and West Nileviruses.^[4] 

Since the 1950s, it has been known to

 occur within a narrow equatorial belt from

 Africa to Asia. From 2007 to 2016, the

 virus spread eastward, across the Pacific

 Ocean to the Americas, where the2015–16 Zika

 virus epidemicreached pandemic levels.^[5]

The infection, known as Zika feveror

 Zika virus disease, often causes no or only

 mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of

 dengue fever.^[3]While there is no specific

 treatment,paracetamol (acetaminophen)

 and rest may help with the symptoms.^[6]As 

of 2016, the illness cannot be prevented by 

medications orvaccines.^[6] Zika can also spread

 from a pregnant woman to her fetus. This can res

ult inmicrocephaly, severe brain malformations,

 and other birth defects.^[7][8] Zika infections in

 adults may result rarely in Guillain–Barré syndrome.^[9]

In January 2016, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel guidance on affected countries, including the use of enhanced precautions, and guidelines for pregnant women including considering postponing travel.^[10][11] Other governments or health agencies also issued similar travel warnings,^[12][13][14] while Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica advised women to postpone getting pregnant until more is known about the risks.^[13][15] The word is pronounced /ˈziːkə