ZIKA VIRUS: Discovered in the 1940s in Africa, this 
mosquito-borne virus is making the rounds... details 
ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

According to the World Health Organization: Zika virus is 
an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first 
identified in Uganda in 1947. 

08-It's one of these tropical diseases that was known in the literature, 
but there weren't any outbreaks until more recently.

Mike Quinn is an entomologist in Austin who's been 
following reports of the virus and its carrier, often called 
the yellow fever mosquito.

18- The consensus is that it's Aedes aegypti that's the main culprit. 
The Aedes aegypti being people specific is an effective vector in that it 
can bite one person with the disease virus, and then bite another 
person and transmit that virus. 

The World Health Organization tells us that Substantial 
new research has strengthened the association between 
Zika infection and the occurrence of fetal malformations 
and neurological disorders. We've seen this most 
markedly in Brazil, with an increase in microcephaly in 
newborns of infected mothers. Do we need to worry in 
Texas? Is this mosquito in our midst?

09-It's an introduced species. And it is most common around the 
southeastern gulf coast states, but it's in the eastern half of Texas. 

Direct infection by a mosquito has not occurred in Texas. 
Reported cases have been in people who traveled to zika 
hot spots. Tomorrow: what we can do to manage 
mosquitoes around the home. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.





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