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Blog

23 May

Posted at 13:49h in Blog by

According to studies conducted by the Weekly Journal of Science, aerosols are culpable in hundreds of millions of deaths due to pollution and toxicity. When aerosols are inhaled, they can cause respiratory problems as well, which can be especially dangerous for young children. They’re also incredibly harmful to the environment, as some aerosols can come into contact with clouds and fall back down to Earth as acid rain. An article published by The Guardian states that aerosol sprays contribute to a mixture of chemicals in the air that can have a harmful impact on pregnant women and babies; among these are spray-on insect repellents. However, with the Zika virus cases on the rise, these two groups are the ones who need the most protection from insects. Zika is an epidemic in many regions of the world and cases have begun to pop up in North America. The virus causes microcephaly in...

17 May

Posted at 13:20h in Blog by

With no vaccine yet available, Zika continues to plague South and Central America, causing birth defects in thousands of infants. According to CBS news, at least 427 people have visited areas where Zika is widespread, returning to the United States with symptoms. The virus is rarely fatal and usually doesn’t cause symptoms more severe than a mild fever, rash or joint pain. However, the virus has been proven to cause microcephaly in unborn children, making the virus incredibly dangerous when it’s contracted by pregnant women. Mosquito season is just around the corner, and researchers fear that this might be an opening for Zika to spread throughout the United States. Both researchers and state governments have asked for federal funding to fast-track research in creating a Zika vaccine, as well as funds for states to take preventive measures against the spread of the virus. In February, President Obama submitted an emergency request to...

09 May

Posted at 16:15h in Blog by

The Zika virus has been discovered in the Aedes albopictus, more commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito, for the first time in the Western hemisphere. This has researchers worried that the Zika virus may spread to the Northeast and Midwest. The discovery was reported by the Pan American Health Organization after researchers in Mexico reported that the Zika virus had been found in Asian tiger mosquitoes. The primary carrier of Zika so far has been another species of mosquito called the Aedes aegypti. This species is much less widespread than the albopictus, giving researchers the hope that the spread of Zika would be contained. However, the albopictus has a range that goes as far north as New England, which means there is now a possibility of Zika spreading further throughout the United States. The geographical reach of the Asian tiger mosquito is just one of many factors making it dangerous. The...

19 Apr

Posted at 16:33h in Blog by

Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida has begun to search for a Zika virus cure. As of April 6th, the Centers for Disease Control state that there are 78 reported cases of Zika in Florida. The state has the most cases of the virus in the country, urging the researchers at Scripps to take action. While the virus was discovered decades ago, there is little in the way of funding or research on it. This is because the disease was previously not widespread, with cases being quite uncommon. Additionally, the medical community wasn’t fully aware of how dangerous Zika is to unborn children. Our understanding of the virus is lacking, and researchers find themselves perplexed by Zika’s ability to penetrate a mother’s placenta and harm her unborn child—a feat of which not many viruses are capable. The lack of funding also presents serious issues. Research for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s...

08 Apr

Posted at 13:03h in Uncategorized by

With two reported cases of Zika in Palm Beach County, the state of Florida has declared a public health crisis. As of March 23rd, Florida holds more than 25% of the cases of Zika in the United States. As with most cases of Zika in the US, one individual is reported to have contracted the disease from a recent trip to South America. Symptoms of Zika include fever, rash, and joint pain; the disease is most dangerous to pregnant women, due to the confirmed link between Zika and birth defects including microcephaly. Microcephaly is a disease that causes infants to be born with smaller-than-average heads resulting in developmental and serious health issues in newborn children. Though neither of the individuals who have contracted the disease is pregnant, the discovery of the disease in Palm Beach County poses a very real threat to expecting mothers in the area. So far Miami-Dade and Broward...

28 Mar

Posted at 14:38h in Blog by

The outbreak of Zika has become a worldwide epidemic. Cases continue to increase in North, South and Central America, putting unborn children at risk due to the disease’s link with microcephaly, which can cause infants to be born with deformed heads. Research is still in the works, but there is also a possibility that the disease may cause mental deficiencies along with the afore-mentioned physical deformities. Scientists are beginning to think that global warming may have an effect on the increase of Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Global warming has been shown to cause increases in both temperature and the amount of rainfall we receive. These factors cause more standing pools of water and produce humid environments, creating the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. In western countries, many diseases spread through mosquitoes have been eradicated, lowering the population’s immunity to them. With Zika on the rise and global warming possibly increasing the risk...

01 Mar

Posted at 21:15h in Blog by

With Zika on the rise and becoming an increasing risk in the United States, research on the disease has been made a top priority. Researchers are finding that Zika-infected mosquito bites may increase a predisposition for mental illness in unborn children. While the side effects of Zika are usually harmless to healthy adults, mosquito bites infected with the disease can be incredibly harmful to pregnant women. Illnesses in utero, including viral infections, can make children more likely to develop mental illnesses later on in life. A viral attack in the early stages of pregnancy can kill fetuses or inhibit the growth of the brain. A common occurrence in countries where Zika is widespread is microcephaly, a disease in which infants are born with smaller-than-normal heads, possibly causing damage to their brain. Zika is spread to infants while in the womb via mosquito bites received by their mothers. This attack on the fetus...

24 Feb

Posted at 20:20h in Blog by

We live in fear of things like sharks and snakes, while greater threats lurk right under our noses—undisturbed and unseen until it’s too late. The mosquito is the most dangerous animal on earth; every year, mosquito bites kill about 750,000 people. Comparatively, sharks are responsible for approximately 10 kills per year. Pythons, meanwhile, rarely attack humans, having killed only about 16 Americans in the past 20 years. These statistics alone are enough to put into perspective where the real threat lies. This month, Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in Florida due to the Zika virus. Cases have begun to appear in the United States. The virus has spread through travelers from foreign countries, where mosquito bites more frequently cause the disease. Most who get the virus don’t even know it. Zika's side effects (fever, headaches, joint pain) are usually gone within a week. But the virus proves to be dangerous...