The Zika epidemic has been an issue in South America, but was mainly targeted in Brazil. It was originally called the Zika Fever and, according to Mayo Clinic, it causes a rash, fever, joint pain, headache, chills, loss of appetite, vomiting, and red eyes. It is spread through the bites of mosquitoes.

The symptoms of a pregnant woman are exactly the same, but it causes massive birth defects. Within the last four months, there were approximately 4,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly in Brazil. Before, only 150 cases were recorded each year. Microcephaly is when the skull of an infant is abnormally small and causes incomplete brain development.

According to The Nation, women in El Salvador are asked not to get pregnant until 2018, which in their case may be hard since abortion is illegal and birth control is expensive. There is no cure for this disease and there is no proper vaccine, but a treatment is provided to help with symptoms. The most a person can do if they have this disease is take Tylenol for the pain, Ibuprofen for the inflammation, and take in IV fluids to help with dehydration.

According to CNN, a new discovery was made on January 16, 2016 when a person from Dallas, Texas contracted the disease through sexual intercourse with a person who already had the disease. Since Zika can be spread through sex, campaigns are being created to raise awareness within schools about this new infectious disease. The director of the Dallas County Health Department confirmed that abstinence and condoms can prevent people from getting Zika. However, mosquitoes with Zika can still spread the disease through bites.

According to Thai Visa News, this disease has traveled as far as Thailand and has only infected one person so far. On February 2, 2016, a twenty-two year old male was sent to the hospital and it was later confirmed by Air Vice Marshall Santi Srisermpoke, director of Bangkok’s Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, that the man had caught the disease that caused massive panic in South America.

Zika is not only affecting populations. Now it may have a financial effect on the United States. According to USA Today, President Barack Obama requested more than $1.8 billion dollars in order to fight off the new outbreak. The money will be used for expanding programs that control mosquitoes, research into new vaccines, and new public education programs. This new outbreak is causing Top House Republicans to ask for the leftover Ebola funds to fight of the Zika disease.

After interviewing Ms. Sharpe and Mr. Launius, both agreed this scare affects them more considering Ms. Sharpe’s pregnancy. Ms. Sharpe humorously stated that when Mr. Launius keeps the door open she tells him to “close the door! You’ll let Zika in!” Jordy Reyes stated he wasn’t too worried about the disease considering it isn’t exactly life threatening and he was confident in his country’s health awareness.