Zika is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is found in tropical Africa and parts of South America. This mosquito is known to also carry yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya viruses.
One to two million people are thought to be infected by the Zika virus already, mosquitos pass the virus form people to people, however people pass it from country to country. It is thought not to be harmful unless you are pregnant or at risk of becoming pregnant. Symptoms are fever and rashes. Mothers infected with The Zika virus during pregnancy have given birth to babies with microcephaly in up to 4000 cases in Brazil since October 2015 this is a massive increase in the occurrence of this condition. A small number of cases have been found already in Illinoi, Texis and Hawaii, it is also now in Europe in Spain and Ireland.
Zika was first seen in 1947, it has presented more recently in The Americas and The Western hemisphere, in Africa, south east Asia and Polynesia. In Brazil and The Caribbean, the cases are increasing at an alarming rate. Over the past few days over 700 thousand visitors will have been partying in Rio De Janeiro , Olandor and Salvador for the carnival. I visited the website and there was no advice to travellers. http://www.rio-carnival.net. There is a real risk that a large number of people may be infected with Zika during carnival and as people return to their home countries they will spread the virus. Brazil is hosting The Olympic games later this year, and currently there are open sours and stagnant water just outside the Olympic park, there is a major risk to health.
Currently research into a vaccine is being carried out and one will be developed in the next year however the time to reach the market will be much longer as the vaccine has to pass The FDA approval process.
Vector control and getting rid of stagnant water is under way, with the army being employed to help eradicate the mosquitos. Travellers and locals are being urged to take extra precautions while travelling such as wearing long sleeved clothes and trousers, and mosquito repellent.