𧬠The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in monkeys in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. It was later identified in humans in the 1950s in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The virus is primarily spread by the bite of the Aedes mosquito π¦ and can also be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to fetus during pregnancy. πΉ The most common symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. In some cases, the virus can cause more severe complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and birth defects in newborns, such as microcephaly. πΉ The Zika virus gained widespread attention in 2015-2016 when there was a large outbreak in the Americas, particularly in Brazil. This outbreak raised concerns about the potential link between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and microcephaly in newborns. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika outbreak a Public Health
“WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL UNIQUE. WITHOUT DIVERSITY, LIFE WOULD BE VERY BORING.” - Catherine Pulsifer. 𧬠Congenital anomalies, also known as birth defects, refer to structural or functional abnormalities present at birth. These anomalies can occur in any part of the body, and may vary in severity from mild to life-threatening. There are different types of congenital anomalies, including structural and functional anomalies. ➡️ Structural anomalies involve physical malformations of body parts, such as cleft lip or palate, heart defects, or limb abnormalities. ➡️ Functional anomalies, on the other hand, affect the functionality of organs or systems, such as congenital heart disease or neural tube defects. Congenital anomalies can have various causes: πΉ Some are genetic, caused by mutations or changes in the genes that are inherited from parents or occur spontaneously during conception. πΉ Others can result from environmental fac