Zika virus

The Zika disease is caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes egyptus mosquito and is believed to have contributed to a spike in cases of microcephaly in Brazil and other parts of the Americas. Microcephaly refers to an abnormally small head for a newborn child. Usually, the Zika virus is relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. As of 2016, no vaccine, preventative drug or specific treatment is available.