Using Genetically Engineered Mosquitos to Fight the Zika Virus

Zika Virus is an infectious disease that is caused by the bite a mosquito species known as the Aedes aegypt. The adverse effects or symptoms of the Zika virus are characterized by rashes on the body, joint pains, and red eyes. These results typically last for a days or weeks. The vaccine, however, has not yet been developed and scientists have sought out alternative ways to combat the prevalence of the virus.  Zika Virus is an infectious disease that is caused by the bite a mosquito species known as the Aedes aegypt. The adverse effects or symptoms of the Zika virus are characterized by rashes on the body, joint pains, and red eyes. These results typically last for a days or weeks (NASEM, 2017). The vaccine, however, has not yet been developed and scientists have sought out alternative ways to combat the prevalence of the virus.  The outbreak of the disease has occurred adversely in parts of Pacific Island, Africa, and the Southeast Asia.

The first attack of the zika virus infections was witnessed in Brazil in 2015. This outbreak prompted the reports of women delivering babies with severe deformities and the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Currently, Zika Virus has been reported in many countries, and research specialists have warned that the virus will continue to spread over time and no vaccine has been developed so far to prevent or cure the infection (NASEM, 2017).

However, various measures have been recommended to people who live or travel to areas that are prone to Zika virus. People have been asked to take steps like sleep in mosquito nets that have been treated with permetherin, wear long pants, T-shirts and shirts covering the whole parts of the body and also have well air condition rooms to keep the mosquitos out. Pregnant women have been discouraged to travel to these areas and to take precautions in implementing the prevention measures to safeguard the health and the future of their unborn babies (NASEM, 2017).

Special scientific programs have been modified by different firms and companies in various countries in an attempt to find ways to eliminate the threat caused by the Zika virus. For example, the CDC Foundation that has come up with genetically modified male mosquitos that will cause the female eggs they mate with is unable to hatch. These male mosquitos have been released to the environment that is prone to the zika virus to help and suppress the prevalence of the illness (NASEM, 2017).

References

NASEM, . (2017). GLOBAL HEALTH AND THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES. S.l.: NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS.

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