Welcome to the WSST 2017 Conference, Going for Gold! This year’s theme is a play off the name of the resort as well as our goal to help you become the best science educator possible. We want you to go for gold!
Zika virus is one of the newest members in a growing list of emerging pathogens. This virus, which is transmitted by mosquitos, has garnered much attention for its ability to cause microcephaly (small head size) in newborns and for its disruption of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The virus is enveloped, contains an RNA genome, and is a relative of other emerging diseases, including Dengue Fever virus and West Nile virus. Zika infections were first identified in the 1940s in African monkeys, and the first cases involving humans were reported by the early 1950s. The virus spread westward toward Southeast Asia and Oceania during the 1970s-2000s, and reached South America by 2014. In 2016, the first cases were reported in Dade County, Florida. Current preventative measures have focused on reducing mosquito populations, as well as developing vaccines. In this talk, I will discuss the effects of the viral lifecycle on the symptoms of Zika infections, the factors that have led to its global spread and recent epidemics, and what is on the horizon for preventative and curative treatments.
