Zika Virus Outbreak: Everything You Need to Know

Zika virus was still unknown to most parts of the world, hiding behind more lethal mosquito-borne viruses like dengue and chikungunya. Although deaths from this virus are rare, the major concern is the birth defects on developing babies in the womb that leads to microcephaly—an abnormally small skull due to undeveloped brain. Recent outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil have raised concern on the growing number of infected pregnant women. Watch the brief video about the origin of zika virus, from its first discovery in the zika forest in Uganda to the international outbreak of today. See also The Ebola Virus: Epidemic Timeline.