We Haven’t Seen The Last Of The Zika Virus

The Zika virus spread across South America and brought panic to many people across the globe. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted the state of emergency warning in November, the concern for the Zika virus has lowered substantially. However, the effects of the Zika virus are not going unnoticed. Throughout the past several years, cases of the Zika virus has continued to affect the general population of South America with societal impacts that have gone ignored for some time. In Brazil, a country that has experienced a significant impact from the virus, thousands of babies have been diagnosed, thereby leaving the families in nearly impossible situations.

It is common knowledge that the Zika virus causes smaller, misshapen heads, also known as microcephaly, in infants. However, it has more recently been discovered that there are a lot more effects of the virus. The children infected can experience the following: seizures, breathing problems, trouble swallowing, weakness and stiffness in the muscles making them unable to move limbs, clubbed feet, hearing and vision problems, and, finally, ferocious irritability. These various symptoms make living incredibly difficult for the families of these children. This is not the end of the consequences as more children, who appeared normal at birth, have been diagnosed.

While discussing the disease itself is troublesome, the multitude of children with an unknown disease has had a significant societal impact. Doctors across the globe do not yet know the extent of the disease. “We only know what’s easy to see,” stated Dr. Vanessa Van der Linden. The families and children that are in need of medical care are struggling to reach the low resources of Brazil. The funds provided for disability has been stretched between the many people that are experiencing the same problems. Even if the family is able to have medical care or participate in physical therapy, there may not be any improvements with the health of the children. “These babies, most of them or all of them, they’re going to live very long lives, you can keep them alive a long time, and they will need assistance from someone 24 hours a day,” state Dr. Ernesto Marques of the University of Pittsburgh. Amongst all of these factors, there is also a high teen pregnancy rate in Brazil, which is causing young mothers to mature even faster.

There have been many movements in order to better the lives of the families that have been affected by this virus. With the aid of multiple doctors, there has been some improvement. Nonetheless, the societal effects of this disease are still unknown, just like the health effects. With the low budget and the fact that many families are needing help, it seems as if there are not many solutions to a spreading problem. Also, the children that are affected by the virus do not necessarily improve once they receive treatment. Instead, the struggles of the families with children affected by this virus have only begun.

All in all, the Zika virus has not disappeared because it is no longer considered a state of emergency. The effects of the Zika virus has only begun to unfold as we watch the children affected by this virus grow. With limited medical treatment, high teen pregnancy rates, and developing symptoms of an unknown disease only time will tell how the world will be affected by the Zika virus.

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