Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness.
It can cause severe birth defects in newborn babies.
The virus has been linked to microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a condition where babies are born with abnormally small heads.
It is also linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis and death.
Zika virus is mainly found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
There is no vaccine or cure for the disease at this time.
Prevention include using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves or pants when outside.
Zika virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Zika virus symptoms can include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
There is no specific treatment for Zika virus, but you can treat the symptoms.
A blood or urine test can determine if someone has been infected with the virus.
A pregnant woman with Zika infection can pass it to her baby.
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