Zika Virus

The Zika Virus is a disease that is passed on by mosquito bites and has been around since the mid-1900s. Recently, there has been a large outbreak in South America (mainly Columbia and Brazil) that could be linked to babies born with microcephaly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish between other infections such as dengue and there is no vaccination yet available. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lays out many ways in which you can help prevent the virus from spreading. The best way is to stop the mosquitos in their track by spraying EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET (after sunscreen if applicable),

wearing long sleeve t-shirts and long pants to cover exposed areas of skin (preferably of light colors),

using window/door screens or air conditioning to keep mosquitos outside the home, sleeping under mosquito bed nets if you are outside and unable to protect yourself, and even by treating clothes with permethrin (a cream insect repellent). If you have the virus and the symptoms don't require intense medical care, make sure you get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids so you don't get dehydrated, and take medicine such as Tylenol (not aspirin) to reduce your fever and pain.

There has been a lot of talk about the pesticide pyriproxyfen as the cause of microcephaly in newborns, not the Zika Virus. This insecticide was added to water in Brazil to prevent mosquito larvae from growing a few months before physicians began to notice an increase in microcephaly, according to this NPR article. Many people argue that because the insecticide was designed to disrupt insect development, it could possibly be disrupting human development as well, although WHO has scientific research to "prove" that that is not possible. However, until officials can absolutely prove what causes microcephaly, it is best for women to err on the side of caution and wait to have children.