“The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency, prompted by growing concern that it could cause birth defects…
“…The Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus. Although it was discovered in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947 and is common in Africa and Asia, it did not begin spreading widely in the Western Hemisphere until last May, when an outbreak occurred in Brazil.” (New York Times, updated February 2016)
Dr. Pete Piermarini, veterinary entomologist in the Department of Entomology at Ohio State, has summarized background information about the Zika virus, its mosquito vectors, and their status in the United States and Ohio.
Click here to review and print the Department of Entomology summary.
Resources Available via Ohio State
Ohio State is working in partnership with Columbus Public Health, Franklin County Public Health and other local and state partners to provide information and guidance for students, faculty and staff. Information is available at www.osu.edu/zikainfo and is consistent with the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ohio State web site also contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to additional resources.
Additional Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html
- World Health Organization – http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
- New York Times – http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?ref=health
- Keck School of Medicine of USC (University of Southern California) – The Zeka Virus Outbreak