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Experts at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine caution the increased risk of Zika transmission as temperatures begin to rise. Zika virus is most commonly transmitted by mosquito bites and presents a number of physical symtoms including fever, rash and joint pain. An additional concern is the link between Zika virus and nuerological illnesses, with babies born to mothers infected by the virus being at increased risk of congenital birth defects. A major warning therefore goes out to pregant women and those of reproductive age.
 
An unusually mild winter and early spring raises concern that numbers of the 'Aedes aegypti mosquito' may be high in urban areas of Texas. Other high-risk areas include South Florida, which experienced an outbreak of the virus in 2016, and Gulf Coast states located between Texas and Florida such as Louisiana, Mississippi, George and Alabama.
 
A vaccine has not yet been developed for Zika virus and the best way to prevent infection is by preventing mosquito bites with repellent and minimizing skin exposure. If you are travelling during the spring or summer months then the CDC's resources will provide further information and out-line travel areas at risk: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html
 
To read the full article published by Dipali Pathak on the Baylor College of Medicine's website, please click the following link: https://www.bcm.edu/news/school-of-tropical-medicine/temperatures-rise-threat-of-zika