Research leading to a vaccine?
Zika virus is tied to a neurological disorder
Zika virus is a disease that is spread by a virus to people, primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, but also by sexual intercourse with an infected person.
The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild, so people don't go to the hospital. Many people don't realize they are infected.
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared Zika to be a public health emergency of international concern.
At this point, most of the diagnosed cases in the U.S. are among women who traveled to South America.
The virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus and has been linked to a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly. Infected babies have under-sized heads and reduced mental capabilities.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women delay travel to areas with Zika until after their child is born.
It's tied to another disease
Evidence that the Zika virus can cause a paralyzing neurological disorder is growing. Research published in The Lancet confirmed a link between Zika and Gullain-barre syndrome, a neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. It causes temporary but sometimes severe paralysis. Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador have reported increases in cases of the disorder.
The hunt is on for a vaccine
Some 15 pharmaceutical companies are working intensely to develop Zika vaccines. Sanofi, SA, Inovio Pharmaceuticals and NewLink Genetics are among them. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and BharatBiotech International are farther along than others.
Scientists quoted in The Wall Street Journal feel confident that they will be able to shorten normal development and testing timelines, which could take a decade or more.
x0516-094.txt 0516-091c.jpg