10 Facts You Have To Know About The Zika Virus

4. May Be Spread Through Intercourse

It is suspectedthe Zika virus can be spread through sexual intercourse, as well as mosquito bites. There have been reports of this occurring throughout the world, emphasizing the importance of being very careful when being sexually active. If your partner has the Zika virus, abstain from intercourse until the virus has passed.

Pregnant women should be especially careful, as their baby could be harmed if the Zika virus shows up in the mother’s system. For this reason, the partners of pregnant women should take the same precautions as far as avoiding this virus at all costs. Traveling to areas with the virus is not advised for either the mother or her partner and they should both try to avoid mosquito bites.

3. Vaccines Are Coming

Researchers are working on a vaccine for the Zika virus, but it seems to be progressing slowly. Despite receiving government funding and pushing from the president, it is still estimated to be over one and a half years from being developed.

When it comes to discovering and testing new vaccines, the process tends to be slow. This is to ensure that safety levels are maintained throughout this delicate process. In the past, scientists were less cautious as far as testing vaccines on their patients, which led to many unnecessary deaths. Now, researchers want to ensure that all vaccines are safe for their recipients before administering anything.