Zika virus disease is an emerging mosquito-borne illness and so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outbreaks of the virus have occurred in some parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. The virus has now been detected in 20 countries and, in Brazil, it has been linked to a birth defect known as microcephaly and severe brain damage in newborns.

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika infection, nor medications to treat those who contract the disease. About 1 in 5 people who become infected with the virus will become ill. The most common symptoms are rash, fever, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Some people experience muscle pain and headaches. The virus is rarely fatal.

[pullquote]Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika infection, nor medications to treat those who contract the disease.[/pullquote]

Experts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathobiological Sciences are available to talk about the virus, how it spreads, and how it causes illness. They include:

—Professor Kristen Bernard, an expert on mosquito-borne viruses like Zika virus. Her primary research is on West Nile virus, which is related to Zika virus. In particular, she studies how these viruses cause disease, including the interaction with mosquitoes.

—Professor Matthew Aliota, also an expert on mosquito-borne pathogens like Zika virus. Aliota’s primary research is on chikungunya virus but he has also focused on Zika since the explosive outbreak in the Americas. Aliota studies how these viruses evolve and adapt to new hosts, including how they interact with mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts.