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When it comes to sun protection, we know that it's critical to apply sunscreen over our entire bodies, but do you count your hair and scalp in that? I didn't. Even as a diligent sunscreen user, I would apply sunscreen up to my forehead and never even consider my hair or scalp, because, well, they're my hair and scalp.
Spoiler alert: Skipping out on that sun protection is one big beauty faux pas. Read on to find out why and, of course, how to keep your locks and your scalp from sunburn.
Why You Need to Protect Your Hair:
You might be thinking, "Do I really need to protect my hair?" Well, while you might not want to add another step to your routine, the answer is yes. Ron Williams, Education Director at Phyto Specific, explained to me that hair is considered a non-living entity when it emerges through the scalp, which is why it doesn't burn like our skin. We may not experience those horrible sunburn symptoms on our manes, but our hair can still become damaged. If we skip sun protection, the result could be a dry, dull, and brittle mane. The damage will only worsen if you're taking a dip in the pool or ocean because of the drying effects of chlorine and salt.
The sun can also change your dye job—and not for the better. Celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa told me that bleached or lifted hair is more susceptible to damage because the process opens up the hair follicle, making hair more vulnerable to oxidizing damage (read: fading) from UV exposure. es
How to Protect It:
Ideally, we should be protecting our manes on a daily basis. Before you go slapping sunscreen onto your strands, hold up. There are other less greasy ways to keep your locks protected. Our first line of defense against the sun is wearing a hat. Choose one that covers all of your hair, or tuck longer locks underneath it.
In terms of products, look for different formulas with UVA and UVB protection. Dr. Anthony Rossi MD, FAAD, suggests the Colorescience SunForgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 ($57, colorscience.com). It is a water-resistant powder that has titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect against harmful rays. Dust it on your hair, then on your face.
Moisturizing your hair is another essential step. Stock up on oils, masks, conditioners, and treatments. Celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says, "I double down in the summer, using lots of oils. I love argan oils. I also use tons of masks. I love Christophe Robin and Kerastase."
Now, Your Scalp:
Just because our hair is covering our scalps doesn't mean we can skip protection. Williams explains, "The scalp is the same construction as the skin on other parts of the body. Therefore, it requires protection it from sun." Makes sense, right?
That means daily SPF, people. A bad hair day is nothing compared to a burnt scalp that is itchy and peeling. Trust—burnt scalps are serious. Dr. Rossi states that you can develop skin cancer from the UV damage.
If you wear your hair in a parted style, you're exposing your skin to the sun's harmful rays—ditto if you have a super short crop or shaved style.
A damaged scalp can also negatively impact hair growth. JB Shelton, Bosley Professional Strength Educator, explained to me that if our scalps are degraded, dry, or have buildup, it can impede and sometimes prevent hair growth. Yikes.
How to Protect Your Scalp
All the experts agreed that hats that fully cover our scalps offer great protection.
Wearing a hat every day is ideal, but if you're not spending much time outside, you can opt for a protective hairstyle. Try slicked back ponytails and buns to avoid parts.
According to Dr. Rossi, if you do go for a parted style, make sure that you're applying sunscreen to your part line. Look for a water-resistant formula with at least SPF 30 protection. Apply it throughout the day and immediately after swimming. Don't forget to apply sunscreen to your ears and the back of your neck. If there's one thing we learned, it's that we need sun protection on all areas.
Source: health
Should we vaccinate our children?
I am frequently asked if I believe that vaccinations (immunizations) are the cause of autism. Let me give the short answer: Yes. I have seen time and time again that when I look from a vibrational vantage point at children diagnosed with autism, there is a strong correlation between vaccinations and the diagnosis of autism.
The first child that I ever worked with energetically in 1999 was diagnosed with autism. He told me through written communication that around 1995 he began to get “stuck” between two worlds. He also taught me a series of steps to help himself and other children get “unstuck.” When I applied those energetic techniques on his behalf, I witnessed him going back in time to the moment before his vaccination at eighteen months.
After this energetic exercise, this particular child began to talk and write. That awareness has always stayed with me, and although I do believe — because of this experience and many others — that there is a direct correlation between the diagnoses of autism and vaccinations, I would be only telling you half the story if I stopped there. If what I saw during that energy session was true, then I have to believe that other things that I have learned (from the same energetic awareness) about children diagnosed are also true.
From Autism to Awesomism
You see, it is my awareness that children who ultimately get diagnosed as autistic were born with what I call “Awesomism.” When I look at the energetic blueprint or makeup of these children, I see some of the most highly advanced/refined energy on the planet. These children are typically vibrationally so far above the norm that they are super sensitive to the densities of pharmaceuticals, diet and environment. They come to us functioning at a frequency of soul or spirit, and when they come into contact with the dense vibration of pharmaceuticals, their systems go into chaos.
But if pharmaceuticals, diet and environment alone are the reasons why children ended up with the diagnosis of autism, then my question was: “Why is it that only 1 in 150 children receive this diagnosis?”
Why aren’t all children being diagnosed with autism? (Since the pharmaceutical companies are doing all they can to make sure that all of our children receive an ever-increasing number of vaccinations at earlier and earlier ages, this question is really not unreasonable.) I believe the answer to this question is that, currently, only 1 in 150 children are now coming to this life experience with a vibration at a soul or spirit level.
What this means is that 1 in 150 children are functioning from the minute they get here at a vibration that is so far above what we as a humanity have experienced before, that they are much more sensitive to the densities that are unfit for the new human condition. These children naturally react (sometimes dramatically) to everything that currently exists on the physical and mental levels that is not in alignment with a humanity that is functioning at a soul or spirit level.
Doesn’t it make sense, then, that at a time of such amazing human evolution, there would be a whole population of children that could be born on this planet that would never have been able to come before? And doesn’t it also make sense that those “experiences” that are the furthest from a soul/spirit consciousness would adversely affect these divine beings?
Reversing the effects of vaccinations
Right about now, you may be saying, “I can’t believe I vaccinated my child.” So let me tell you the good news.
Any toxicity that has built up in the systems of these very sensitive beings can be removed or lessened. There are a number of ways to eliminate toxicity from the body. That is the reason why we hear of these “miracle cures” when dietary changes and other methods are used that reduce the body’s toxicity.
Talk to your alternative physicians and therapists to find methods that work best for your family and child. I also highly recommend that you read the book The Sanctity of Human Blood: Vaccination is not Immunization by Tim O’Shea, and educate yourself regarding the rise of vaccinations in this country. Please also know that many of the behaviors that your children exhibit are more related to Awesomism than to autism. Once the toxicity is removed from the child’s system, autistic symptoms are commonly reduced.
But there is more to it than that. We are so accustomed to experiencing our world through the eyes of the physical and mental realms that when we see an individual functioning at a soul/pure emotion or spirit/vibrational level, we are confused by their behaviors. We think they mean one thing, when they actually mean something completely different.
We are blessed to be present on Earth at a most amazing time. The collective vibration and experience is increasing all the time. We are becoming a new consciousness, one that is in personal harmony and relationship with all. Children diagnosed with autism are trying constantly to reveal their Awesomism to us, but we are only now learning how to read their behaviors in a way that reveals the blessing as opposed to the supposed disorder. These children as a collective actually demonstrate unity on a daily basis. They teach us — and in some cases force us — to feel our way through life as opposed to thinking our way through. They constantly reflect the emotional climate back to us and give us consistent radar of where we are in our evolution toward feeling/sensing/knowing versus thinking. As we move beyond the mind we will naturally see them as the gift to the planet that they are.
There are many levels of awareness related to autism. Looking through the eyes of the physical world with mental constructs, it is a “disorder.” Looking through the eyes of soul and spirit, however, autism is Awesomism. It is where these kids function all the time, regardless of their diagnosis. These children are amazing gifts to our planet. Through them we will come to know our potential as an evolving humanity. When we get beyond the autism and can see the Awesomism, we will have arrived at a new level of consciousness beyond the mind. When we see through those eyes, we will see the child standing in front of us in a whole new light, and we will understand ourselves as being so much more than we have known before.
Source: life.gaiam
Which brands are best and ways to keep your children's skin (and lungs) safe
Isn’t spray-on sunscreen a health and environmental nightmare when it seems that more of the sunscreen ends up going up my nose than on the kid at the beach next to me?
Spray cans of sunscreen may no longer contain chlorofluorocarbons (also known as CFCs, which were phased out in the 1990s for causing holes in the stratospheric ozone layer), but many contain other chemicals that are no good for our health or the environment. Researchers have found that the chemicals and/or minerals in the vast majority of commercially available sunscreens — even the rub-in creamy or oily varieties — can cause health problems just from ordinary use; inhaling them only magnifies the risks.
And just what are the risks? According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are two major types of sunscreens available in the U.S. “Chemical” sunscreens, the more common kind, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body’s endocrine system, as their active ingredients (e.g., octylmethylcinnamate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, benzophone, mexoryl, PABA or PARSOL 1789) mimic the body’s natural hormones and as such can essentially confuse the body’s systems. Quite a risk to take, considering that the chemical varieties don’t even work for very long once applied.
Meanwhile, “mineral” sunscreens are considered somewhat safer, as their active ingredients are natural elements such as zinc or titanium. But “micronized” or “nano-scale” particles of these minerals can get below the skin surface and cause allergic reactions and other problems for some people. EWG recommends sticking with “mineral” sunscreens whenever possible but, more important, taking other precautions to avoid prolonged sun exposure altogether. “At EWG we use sunscreens, but we look for shade, wear protective clothing, and avoid the noontime sun before we smear on the cream,” the group reports.
As for spray varieties, EWG recommends avoiding them entirely: “These ingredients are not meant to be inhaled into the lungs.” With so little known about the effects of sunscreen chemicals on the body when rubbed into the skin, we may never know how much worse the effects may be when they are inhaled. But suffice it to say: When your neighbor at the beach is spraying down Junior, it’s in your best interest to turn away and cover your nose and mouth.
The root of the problem, according to EWG, is failure on the part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite repeated requests from public health and consumer advocates, to implement sunscreen safety standards, some of which were proposed by government scientists more than three decades ago.
EWG only considers a small percentage of the sunscreens on the market—none of which come packaged in spray cans—safe for human use. Some of the top rated varieties come from manufacturers including All Terrain, Aubrey Organics, Badger, Blue Lizard, California Baby, La Roche-Posay, Purple Prairie Botanicals, thinksport, and UV Natural. None of the mainstream drug store variety brands appear on EWG’s recommended list. The full list is available on the sunscreens section of EWG’s Skin Deep website. With summer now upon us, stock up on good sunscreen before it’s too late.
Source: life.gaiam
A healthy lifestyle can often take second place to the demands of career or family. But fitting in time for health and fitness can be as simple as A-B-C! What follows is an A-to-Z list of healthy-living tips. Try a few each day and you’re sure to find some that work for you.
A – Air
Some days it seems we just go from one interior to another, from house to car to home without ever experiencing the outdoors. Getting outside, even for a quick walk around the block or in your local park, can do wonders for your mood and for your health.
B – Breathing
It’s easy to fall into bad breathing habits. Too shallow or too quick — both can add to stress and have a negative impact on the body. Set aside 10 minutes a day to try the following breathing exercise: Limit breaths to 10 or fewer per minute, and, breathing through the nostrils, make each breath deep and measured. Your heart rate will slow and the physical symptoms of stress may be alleviated.
C – Creativity
Research attests to the benefits of expressing oneself in an artistic way. It’s incredibly satisfying — no matter your skill level — to craft a short story or finish a painting. And with social media, you can easily share your work with friends and family for a quick self-esteem boost!
D – Dietary Supplements
Nutrition is tricky. We all know the basics, but sometimes we still fall short. Dietary supplements, including a good multivitamin, can pick up the slack and keep the body in good order.
E – Eye Health
Keeping your peepers healthy is crucial to protecting your vision and preserving your overall health. Make sure to visit your eye doctor regularly, and follow his or her guidelines when it comes to wearing glasses or contact lenses. Vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids are all vital for maintaining your eye health.
F – Friends
Time spent with friends is rarely time regretted, and it can have a positive impact on stress levels and overall happiness.
G – Goals
Don’t keep your goals inside. Write them down! Externalizing your ambitions has the effect of making them seem more concrete and harder to ignore. But keep your goals realistic. After all, there are only 24 hours in a day, and setting impossible-to-reach goals will only leave you discouraged.
H – Hydration
If you aren’t drinking enough water, you aren’t healthy. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, you’ll want to drink 100 ounces of water.
I – Interval Training
Interval training, in which you switch back and forth between moderate- and high-intensity exercise, can bump up your metabolism and increase your cardiovascular fitness.
J – Jokes
Don’t stifle your laughter! Studies show that laughter has a profoundly beneficial effect on mood and can even boost the body’s immune system.
K – Knees
Nearly everyone has experienced knee pain. Whether it’s caused by arthritis, excessive foot pronation, or overuse of the muscles that protect this vulnerable joint, our knees take a knocking. Protect your knees (find tips here) and you’ll be able to stay active for the foreseeable future.
L - Love
Tell someone that you love them every day. You’ll be touched at the warm response.
M – Meditation
Meditation can be extremely beneficial, and you don’t need to be a follower of Buddhism to reap the rewards. A simple way to start is by spending 15 minutes a day in a quiet place, focusing your attention on any and all sensations that come to mind.
N – Nutrition
Control your portion sizes and make sure that fruits and vegetables and lean protein form the basis of your diet.
O – Open Mind
Make an effort to see things from someone else’s point of view. It’s easy to become wed to your own perspective; a healthy, empathetic mind can turn it around and consider other angles.
P – Pilates
Need a new workout? Give Pilates a try. You’ll burn calories and work your core in a way you never thought possible!
Q – Quinoa
This whole grain is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Try it in place of rice or pasta for a nutritional boost.
R – Run
Running requires just a good pair of shoes and some clothes you don’t mind getting sweaty. Even running for just 10 minutes a day can be beneficial! Just make sure to check with your doctor first if you have joint problems.
S – Swimming
Another great way to exercise, swimming is a low-impact, total-body workout that engages every muscle group, improving overall body tone.
T – Tea
Try replacing your morning latte with a cup of hot green tea. You’ll hydrate, avoid a 10 a.m. sugar crash, and reap green tea’s antioxidant benefits.
U – “Use As Directed”
The instructions for how to use the weight machines at the gym? Follow them. That box of expired pain reliever? Toss it. Those guidelines are there for a reason: to protect your health and keep you safe!
V – Vacation
A vacation can be a rejuvenating experience. It doesn’t have to be a trip to Hawaii or the Caribbean: A weekend trip to the next town over could be just the thing!
W – Walking
Put on your headphones, grab your dog, and go for a walk.
X – eXercise
Yes, we cheated on this one. But exercise is so important, we don’t mind stretching the rules a bit.
Y – Yoga
This ancient practice helps balance the body and the mind, while also increasing strength and flexibility. Learn everything you need to know in our Yoga Solutions Guide.
Z – Zinc
Zinc promotes immune function, giving you a better chance of fighting off illness. It’s especially important for men, because it plays a role in the production of testosterone.
Source: life.gaiam
6 yoga poses for pregnancy
I can remember so clearly the moment I first realized I was pregnant. I was driving, heading back to Brooklyn after visiting a friend in Philadelphia, when I felt that telltale pang (called mittleschmertz) of ovulation. My husband and I had just started trying, and I thought to myself, “Here we go!”
My boobs were sore within 36 hours. I knew in my bones that I was pregnant.
About a week later, a home pregnancy test confirmed my intuition. In yoga class, I didn’t mention anything to my teachers, but I did subtly start adjusting my practice — standing with feet hips’ distance in Mountain Pose, for instance, and avoiding twists. And then, about 10 days later, I miscarried.
It was very early, and our first time out. Still, it stung.
There were a lot of Corpse Poses where tears leaked out of my eyes in the weeks that followed. Sticking with my yoga practice during that time gave me an outlet for my emotions, and it helped me stay in a friendly relationship with my body when I could have easily felt betrayed. It also gave me tools to send extra love (in the form of freshly oxygenated blood and energy) to my reproductive organs. A few months later, I was pregnant again, with our now-almost-six-year-old daughter.
How yoga helps when you’re trying to get pregnant
Yoga tones and nourishes your reproductive organs by systematically squeezing and then releasing them, which encourages them to function optimally. And it gives you a way to stay connected to your body at a time when it can feel like you’re not on the same page.
But the most important thing yoga can do for you when you’re trying to have a baby is help you calm the stress response. Cooling your chronic flight-or-fight helps balance your hormones and makes your body a more inviting environment for a baby and makes it that much easier to conceive.
I’m not talking power yoga, hot yoga, or even vinyasa yoga. If fertility is truly your main priority for your yoga practice (and whether you’ve been practicing yoga for years or are brand new to it), focus on some easy-does-it yoga. If you’re looking for a class, some of the styles to look for on a studio schedule are:
Restorative
Yin
Gentle
Hatha
Mellow
Stretch and Breathe
If you’re looking for a routine to do at home, here are the six fertility yoga poses I suggest. Use as many props (blankets, bolsters, pillows) as you like. In fact, I dare you to drag all this stuff out! It’s really all about promoting the deep, I’m-so-relaxed-I-feel-like-a-noodle feeling. You will be so happy you did!
1. Reclined Bound Angle Pose
This is the mother of all fertility-promoting yoga poses. Resting your torso on the bolster creates plenty of breathing room — literally — in your abdomen for the uterus and ovaries. Splaying your thighs out to the side opens the pelvis and invites more blood and breath to flow through the area.
To do it, put your bolster or a couch cushion on the floor. Sit down so the cushion is a few inches away from your lower back — you want your ribcage to rest on the bolster, but not your waist. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together, then let your knees open to the side. Have two rolled-up towels or yoga blocks nearby to tuck under your thighs. Then lie back so your spine, neck, and head are resting on the cushion. Place your hands on your belly, palms down, or on the floor, palms up. Stay at least 5 minutes, letting your body sink down into your props. No effort allowed! Just be.
2. Wide-Legged Seated Pose
This pose really opens the hips and gets the blood flowing through your pelvis.
Sitting up tall, open your legs wide. Keep your knees and toes pointing straight up at the ceiling. Stay sitting up tall, your fingertips on the floor just behind your thighs to help you reach your spine away from your hips, for five breaths. Then fold forward as far as you can comfortably go. Rest your head on a bolster, coffee table, or hard chair and stay here 1-2 minutes.
3. Head on Knee Pose
The slight twist in this seated version of Tree Pose is like a massage for your uterus and ovaries.
Sit on the floor with both legs straight. Bend your right knee and bring the sole of your right foot up high on the left inner thigh. Place your hands on the floor on either side of your left knee, and use the leverage of your hands pressing in to the floor to spin your belly button so it’s in line with your left knee. Then walk your hands toward your left foot, keeping the spine long. When you’ve gone as far as you can, use a bolster, rolled-up blanket, or even a chair to rest your forehead on. Stay a minute or two, then switch legs.
4. Simple Seated Twist
Yet another massage for the ole uterus. (Speaking of, have you booked a massage for your whole body lately?
Sitting cross-legged with a tall spine, rotate your torso to the left. Bring your left hand to the floor just behind your left buttock and your right hand to your left knee. Take 10 breaths here, lifting your spine a titch taller with each inhale, and twisting a hair further to the left with each exhale. Then repeat to the right.
5. Bridge Pose on Blocks
This pose stretches the psoas — the muscle that connects the upper body to the lower body — which creates more space in the low abdomen for your organs to do their thing. It also gently compresses the thyroid gland, which then gets doused in fresh blood (which delivers oxygen and nutrients), helping this hormone-producer function better.
To do it, you need two yoga blocks, or two short stacks of books or magazines. Place one block against a wall. Lie on your back and put your feet on the block so your soles are flat against the wall. Then press in to the wall and lift your hips up, sliding the other block under your sacrum — the triangular bone at the base of your spine. Roll on to the outside edges of your upper arms and drop your chin down toward your chest and back toward the floor slightly. Stay one or two minutes.
6. Corpse Pose
This is where the relaxation really kicks in.
To up the comfort level, rest your torso on a bolster or couch cushion, or roll up a blanket to put under your knees, or rest just your calves on a coffee table. Really give it up to gravity and imagine the floor rising up to support you, so that all that’s left for you to do is sink and release into the floor.
Source: life.gaiam
Have a happy, healthy Independence Day!
As I discussed in the article 7 Ways to Fast Track Your Weight Loss This Summer, eating healthy and staying on track with your nutrition plan during the summer months is not as easy as one might think. The increased socializing that often takes place during this time of year makes for quite a calorie challenge. Stay at the top of your nutritional game and have fun at your summer soirées with these four strategies:
1. Offer to bring either an appetizer or dessert.
I have found that most of my clients “fall off the wagon” either before or after the main course at most parties. Whether it’s the chips and dips or brownies a la mode, the beginning and end of the party seem to pack the highest calorie punch. In order to combat this, offer to bring a low-calorie appetizer and/or dessert. Low-cal appetizers include crudités and yogurt dip, melon and prosciutto, and whole-wheat pita toasts with hummus, while dessert ideas include fruit kabobs (or just a fruit salad), berries and light whipped topping and angel food cake with raspberry sauce.
2. Stick with bun-less main courses.
The best thing about summer cuisine is that foods are most often grilled or cooked with minimal added fats or sauces. It is often the side dishes or buns that get us into trouble. When choosing your main course, opt for a bun-less burger or hot dog and a salad. If there is seafood, even better! Just try to keep those refined carbohydrates (like hamburger and hot dog buns!) to a minimum.
3. Choose low-calorie cocktails.
As I’ve mentioned before, I really do love my cocktails. And if it weren't for all of the calories, I'd choose delicious frozen concoctions like margaritas, daiquiris and my all-time favorite: piña coladas! One frozen drink can run you anywhere from 300-500 calories: it’s just not worth it! There are several other high-sugar drinks to be wary of as well, including sangria and vodka with fruit juices. Your best bet is to stick with a light beer, a glass of wine, a spritzer, or better yet, a clear liquor (like vodka or gin) with club soda and a small splash of fruit juice. Also, try to limit yourself to two drinks with at least one glass of water in between the two, as too much alcohol is likely to result in poor food choices.
4. Eat before the party!
It is so tempting to ‘save your calories’ and your appetite for a big party, but trust me, showing up hungry to a food-filled event is a surefire way to fall victim to the decadent offerings that await you. Be sure to eat a good dose of protein throughout the day, and to consider a pre-party snack. Even just a handful of veggies and a string cheese as you are getting dressed could provide you with enough nourishment to fuel your healthy eating resolve. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day is also a good way to keep your appetite in check.
If you have favorite summer nutrition tips, please share them here. We would love to hear from you and learn some of your strategies!
Source: life.gaiam
Zika virus is a virus related to dengue, West Nile, and other viruses.
Zika virus may play a role in developing congenital microcephaly (small head and brain) in the fetus of infected pregnant women.
The viral disease was first noted in 1947 in Africa and has spread by outbreaks to many different countries, with an ongoing outbreak in Brazil and Puerto Rico; the first diagnosis of Zika virus in the U.S. occurred in Harris County (Houston), Texas, in January 2016.
The virus is transmitted to most people by a mosquito (Aedes) vector; the risk factor for infection is a mosquito bite.
The Zika virus' incubation period is about three to 12 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
The vast majority of infections are not contagious from person to person; however, it may be passed person to person during sex.
The Zika virus symptoms and signs are usually
fever,
rash,
joint pain,
conjuctivitis.
The virus infection is usually diagnosed by the patient's history and physical exam and by blood testing (testing for the virus genome; usually done in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]).
Treatment is related to symptom control, and over-the-counter medication is used in most infected people.
Rarely, complications such as dehydration or neurologic problems may develop.
In Brazil, an outbreak of Zika virus infections may be related to the development of congenital microcephaly; evidence comes from epidemiology and from Zika viruses isolated from amniotic fluid and the brain and heart of an infant with microcephaly.
The prognosis for most Zika virus infections is good; however, complications such as microcephaly, if proven to be related to the infection in pregnancy, would be a poor outcome for the newborn. In addition, eye abnormalities, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) may occur, with fair to poor outcomes.
Prevention of Zika virus infections is possible if mosquito bites from infected mosquitoes are prevented.
Currently, there is no vaccine against Zika virus infection; however, the possible link to development of microcephaly in the fetus has prompted physicians to lobby for a fast development of a vaccine.
What is Zika virus?
Zika virus (sometimes termed Zika fever) is a Flavivirus that is related to dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis viruses (Flaviviridae); the viruses are transmitted to humans by mosquito bites and produce a disease that lasts a few days to a week. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (redness of the eyes). In Brazil, the viral infection has been linked to birth defects (mainly small head and small brain size, termed microcephaly) in babies (newborns) whose mothers became infected with Zika virus during their pregnancy. The CDC reported that researchers now conclude from new data published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2016, that Zika virus is responsible for (causes) microcephaly and other serious brain defects. According to CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden and other experts, these findings should serve as a warning to the U.S. to take Zika virus infections very seriously.
The WHO (World Health Organization) declared Zika virus infections as a public-health emergency in February 2016, after Zika virus had been reported transmitted to humans in 62 countries worldwide.
What is the history of Zika virus outbreaks?
Zika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated and identified in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947. Studies suggest that humans in that area of Africa could also have been infected with the virus. From 1951-1981, blood tests showed evidence of Zika virus infections in many other African countries and Indonesia (Tanzania, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, for example), and researchers found that transmission of the virus to humans was done by mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). In 2007, the virus was detected in Yap Island, the first report that the virus spread outside of Africa and Indonesia to Pacific Islands. The virus has continued to spread to North and South America (Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, and into the Caribbean islands from Aruba to Jamaica). The most recent outbreaks have been noted in Puerto Rico, Cape Verde Islands, and a large ongoing outbreak is occurring in Brazil that started in May 2015 and is ongoing. The first isolation of Zika virus in the U.S. occurred in January 2016 in Harris County (Houston), Texas, from an individual who became infected in El Salvador in November and returned to Texas. Although there have not been documented mosquito transmissions in the U.S., Texas and other states have two mosquito strains (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) that could be capable of transmitting the viruses (see maps below). The CDC also reports 354 individuals who had locally acquired infection (acquired through mosquito bites) in the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and 346 travel-associated infections in the U.S. as of Apr. 6, 2016, but none due to mosquito bites in the U.S. The CDC expects these numbers to steadily increase.
Source: medicinenet
