CHAPTER 1 ZIKA OUTBREAK A pool of water sits in the middle of a flower In the water hundreds of mosquito eggs are ready to hatch The eggs are from tiger mosquitoes These insects can be harmful to people and animals They carry viruses such as Zika This virus can cause rashes and fevers It can also cause brain problems in babies The center of a bromeliad can hold water For this reason the flower can be a breeding spot for tiger mosquitoes 5
Zika virus is native to parts of Africa and Asia Many people there have developed natural defenses against Zika So the virus harms few people in these areas But in the 2000s people likely brought mosquitoes with Zika to islands in the Pacific Ocean People in the Pacific had not developed natural defenses against the virus In 2007 mosquitoes caused the first known Zika outbreak in that part of the world In early 2015 Zika reached Brazil It caused outbreaks across the country The virus quickly spread throughout the Americas By September 2016 people had found Zika in 60 countries Many 6
Zika can cause a brain problem known as microcephaly which makes the head smaller than usual babies in those areas were born with brain problems Luckily the spread of Zika slowed However tiger mosquitoes are able to carry at least 30 other viruses besides Zika Viruses can spread diseases Those diseases can be especially harmful in new areas That’s why the spread of mosquitoes can be a serious problem 7
