The virus is transmitted when an Aedes mosquito bites a person with an active infection and then spreads the virus by biting others. Those people then become carriers during the time they have symptoms.
The Zika virus is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya and dengue. But unlike some of those viruses, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika or medicine to treat the infection.
1 - The CDC has issued a travel alert for Central America, South America, and the Caribbean due to a Zika virus outbreak.
2 - Zika is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also carries viruses like dengue fever and yellow fever.
3 - Pregnant women are urged to consult their doctors before traveling to 14 affected countries and territories.
4 - Mounting evidence has linked the Zika virus to microcephaly, a rare birth defect that causes brain and head abnormalities.
5 - More than 3,500 cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October 2015, more than 30 times the annual average.
6 - Zika is spreading rapidly in Brazil. Experts say 1.5 million Brazilians may carry the virus.
7 -The CDC varning comes two weeks before Brazil's annual Carnival festival, which attracted 1.5 million visitors last year.
8 - Visitors from around the world are also expected to visit Rio de Janeiro in August for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
9 - Health experts say tourism may cause the virus to spread to other parts of the world.
10 - If people must travel to affected areas, they are encouraged to use insect repellants and wear protective clothing.
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