Still No Effective Treatment for Zika Virus

With the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro about to begin, now seems like a good time to revisit the available information on Zika virus. While studies on potential vaccines have been moving forward, they are still a few years away from widespread human application. For now, taking preventive measures and focusing on treating symptoms is the best course of action when dealing with Zika virus.

While more research is needed to determine the period of viremia, the disease is typically cleared within 7 to 14 days after symptoms present. Pregnant women and those hoping to conceive have the greatest cause for concern. Occurrences of microcephaly have been linked to the Zika virus, so anyone expecting to come into contact with expectant mothers is urged to avoid traveling to hotspots for the virus.

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