Zika virus

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen in a lab at the Fiocruz institute in the Brazilian city of Recife.

Did A Pesticide Cause Microcephaly In Brazil? Unlikely, Say Experts

8:03pm February 18, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

A report from doctors in Argentina raises the possibility that a mosquito pesticide could be responsible for an increase in microcephaly in Brazil. But many top scientists strongly disagree.

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Pope Francis speaks to journalists Thursday aboard a flight from Mexico to Italy.

Religion

Pope Suggests Contraception Use May Be 'Lesser Evil' For Those Fearing Zika

1:42pm February 18, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

The pope firmly ruled out abortion for pregnant women who fear effects of the Zika virus — but said that "in certain cases," contraception might be a lesser evil, without directly approving its use.

The man in the T-shirt is Paolo Sandoval, 42. His wife (seated, far right, in a white shirt) is Jessica Vivana Torres, 30. She's 15 weeks pregnant with their first child and came down with Zika three weeks ago. "I'm really worried about brain damage in th

With Zika Looming, What's It Like At A Maternity Clinic In Colombia?

6:34pm February 16, 2016

More than 5,000 pregnant women appear to have fallen sick with the virus. But there are no good tests for the birth defect possibly linked to this disease.

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Jamaica's Ministry of Health released a reggae music video about how people can protect themselves against the Zika virus.

Rapping Doc With A Reggae Beat Tells Jamaicans How To Fight Zika Virus

5:22pm February 16, 2016

by Maanvi Singh

Doctor and musician Michael Abrahams acknowledges that "Zik V is not in the Caribbean territory" but sends a message that "prevention is the greatest weapon."

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes like these are known to carry the Zika virus â four cases of which have now been confirmed in American Samoa, according to officials.

American Samoa Says It Has 205 Suspected Cases Of Zika

3:03pm February 15, 2016

by Bill Chappell

The news was announced recently by health and government leaders in American Samoa, which has a population of around 54,000.

Brazilian soldiers prepare for an operation to fight the Aedes aegypti mosquito, vector of the Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on February 3. The operation on Saturday will include 220,000 soldiers passing out pamphlets; they ho

Brazilian Military Takes Aim At Mosquito Problem

8:51am February 13, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

On Saturday, 220,000 soldiers across Brazil are going door to door to raise awareness about the Zika virus, and promote mosquito control efforts that could slow the disease's spread.

Chart: Use Of Contraceptives And Abortion Laws In Countries Affected By Zika

Health & Safety

Chart: Access To Contraception And Abortion In Zika-Affected Countries

1:52pm February 11, 2016

by Marc Silver

The possibility that the Zika virus is linked to the birth defect microcephaly has sparked a public debate about women's reproductive rights in Latin America.

This Mosquito Likes Us Too Much For Our Own Good

6:24pm February 10, 2016

by Jason Beaubien

Meet Aedes aegypti. It's an ideal spreader of disease — from its attraction to trash to its habit of sipping blood from lots of folks in one feeding spree.

Scott Weaver, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, was one of only a few scientists studying Zika before the latest outbreak in Latin America.

Virus Profilers Race To Figure Out What Makes Zika Tick

3:14pm February 10, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Though Zika was discovered in 1947, few scientists since had studied the virus. Now, while some check its genes, others turn to placental cells for clues to any link between Zika and birth defects.

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Screenshot from the CDC Emergency Operations Center B-Roll

Zika Virus: What Happened When

2:20pm February 10, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

For decades, Zika was considered a mild virus that rarely made people ill. Suddenly it seems to be causing serious problems and is spreading across the Americas. Here's the latest news.