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The untreatable Zika virus has spread to so far

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The Zika virus is quickly expanding its reach, particularly in the Americas. So far its spread has drawn concern from the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus, transmitted via mosquitoes, has been identified in the US but only in people who’ve recently traveled to Zika hot spots. Once infected with Zika, only about 20% of people ever show symptoms, which most commonly include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

There is no vaccine or treatment available for the virus. One reason Zika is troubling is because it has been linked with birth defects. After some mothers showed symptoms of the virus during their pregnancy, their babies were born with abnormally small brains, a condition known as microcephaly.

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