Zika 101

If worldwide epidemics don’t kill us all, maybe Zika will, threatening not just humanity but the future of humanity in the wombs of the mothers. Or maybe we’re just overreacting. Or maybe we really are doomed. Herewith, a primer: HAS THE ZIKA VIRUS ARRIVED IN PHILIPPINE SHORES? Yes and no. Worldwide, as of press time, the local transmission of the virus has been confirmed in 29 countries, most of which are in Latin America. Our country is not on the list yet. But the vector Aedys aegypti, that striped little deadly thing that also carries dengue and Chikugunya, is very much present in the Philippines. Also, in 2012, a 15-year-old boy in Cebu was diagnosed with the Zika virus. After testing negative for dengue and Chikugunya, and suffering from fever, headache, conjunctivis, sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, the boy tested positive for Zika, recovering after three weeks of [...]