ZIKA VIRUS and What is IT?
- Public Affairs Officer
- Jan 27, 2016
- 2 min read
According to the Pan American Health Organization, twenty countries in the Western Hemisphere have confirmed cases of the Zika Virus. Those countries include Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Zika is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an infection similar to yellow fever and West Nile virus. Zika is named after Uganda's Zika forest where it was discovered. It is common in Africa and Asia where people have become immune. No one in the Western Hemisphere had been infected before this month, so with no immune defenses, Zika is now spreading quickly.
The Zika virus can cause birth defects and complications during pregnancy and in some unique cases, might cause death! Is this a National Security issue that we should be concerned about? Is this the "zombie" apocalypse that we have been worried about? I guess we will have to see what comes of this matter!
What happens if this is an outbreak and we aren't prepared? Folks, we get this questions alot, especially at our meetings and training events. Our number one response is this; YOU NEVER CAN BE TOO PREPARED" Real live activites and events happen every day. Because of the lack of transparency, and National Security compliance issues, we will never know exactly what is going on 100% of the time, but one thing we do know is this: The threat is real! Join a group! Join a Unit in our Brigade! Do something about it and get informed and get prepared!
Check out our "Join Us" Page to learn more!
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