A Cure for the Zika Virus Formulated to Treat Infected Patients

Aedes Mosquitoes are the dreaded flying insects identified in the spread of the Zika Virus. These mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading dengue and the chikungunya viruses.

Researchers had been frantically formulating a cure to stop the widespread of these viruses, specifically the Zika virus which had lately inflated its effect in the Americas. It started with flu like symptoms but later escalated to microcephaly passed to the to the unborn.

This happens when mothers, in pregnancy, are bitten by the aedes mosquitoes and is infected by the Zika virus. The virus is then transmitted to the fetus which in effect are being born with abnormally smaller heads. The Zika Virus is also linked to other neurological disorders on humans that leads to paralysis and death.

The Zika virus is transmitted to a host when bitten by the Aedes mosquitoes. Biting spree of these flying vermin usually occur during the day till the late afternoon. Yellow fever is also being transmitted by these insects. Other possible transmission method is through sexual activity or blood transfusion. Its origin had been located and the animal that hosted it is identified, the rhesus monkey from Uganda.

The cure has been identified for the Zika Virus spread and treat its complications. The antidote for this epidemic is the antibody called ZIKV-177. This antibody also protected the fetus of pregnant mice in laboratory experiments. The same protective property of this antibody goes true with experiments on primates. Data of these experiments will lead to the formulation of a Zika vaccine needed in the future, according to James Crowe Jr. MD, director of Vanderbilt Vaccine Center and coauthor of the study with Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD at Washington University.

In a report from the World Health Organization, there are three vaccines that would be available soon after the experiments bore positive results.  The International Organization will support countries with solid stance to fight the Zika virus. The results will lead to clinical trials on humans as soon as possible.