and medical researchers believe it might be linked to a mosquito borne virus.

醫療研究人員認為這情形可能與蚊子傳播的一種病毒有很大關係

So, what is this mysterious virus and how do we stop it?

這神秘病毒是甚麼? 而我們該如何阻止病毒擴散?

Zika, a strange mosquito borne virus, is sweeping through many Central and South American countries.

茲卡病毒透過蚊子叮咬傳染，並且在許多拉丁美洲國家肆虐

Current estimates place the number of Zika cases at over a million in Brazil alone.

目前估計光是巴西就超過百萬人感染茲卡病毒

And in response to the outbreak the CDC has implemented two new travel bans, to an already large list,

美國疾病控制與預防中心針對該疫情表示已多增兩項新的旅行禁令

for pregnant women, one on the United States Virgin Islands

禁止孕婦前往美屬維京群島、

and the other on the Dominican Republic.

以及多明尼加共和國

The ban is for pregnant women specifically because since the epidemic started,

這兩項禁令之所以針對孕婦是因為自從疫情開始蔓延以來

the incidences of microcephaly, a devastating birth defect, have skyrocketed.

罹患先天性缺陷小頭畸形症的情形越演越烈

Microcephaly is a condition where a baby is born with a small head. Because the head is so small in those born with the condition,

小頭畸形指的是嬰兒出生時頭圍較小，因為頭圍小所以他們的大腦也小

the brain is small too, meaning it’s underdeveloped. Which can cause a whole

這意味著他們的大腦並未發展完全，可能引發許多健康問題

range of other health issues like cognitive deficits, seizures, feeding problems, vision problems and hearing loss.

例如: 認知缺陷、癲癇、餵食問題、視力問題、及聽力問題

Unfortunately there’s no cure for the condition,

不幸的是目前並沒有方法能根治

only treatments for its effects.

唯一能做的是接受治療，減輕症狀

Microcephaly is typically seen in rates of about 2 in 10,000 births according to a study

根據先天性缺陷研究期刊A專欄的一項研究結果

published in the journal Birth Defects Research (Part A). But nearly 4,000 cases have been

嬰兒罹患小頭畸形症的機率為一萬分之二

reported in Brazil since October, that’s nearly 26 times the normal rate. And researchers

但從去年10月起巴西已有四千名嬰兒患有先天性癲癇，將近26倍

strongly suspect that the birth defect is linked to the Zika virus.

因此研究人員強烈懷疑該出生缺陷與茲卡病毒有關

Now this epidemic seemed to have come out of nowhere. The mosquito that carries the virus,

該疫情不知怎麼爆發的，因為攜帶茲卡病毒的蚊子，白線斑蚊

was pretty much eradicated in Brazil in the 1950s.

在1950年已全面消滅

But as the decades wore on, it made its way back.

然而隨著時間推進，牠又出現了

Then last year reports of Zika in Brazil started popping up.

去年巴西開始出現茲卡病毒感染案例

It wasn’t taken too seriously, since its symptoms in adult are mild, just things like a fever or a rash.

但當時並沒有受到太多重視，因為它在成人身上的病徵較為溫和，只是發燒、起疹子而已

It wasn’t until the rate of Microcephaly shot up that the world started to take notice.

直到罹患先天性癲癇的罹患率飆高，全球才開始正視茲卡病毒

Now the battle against Zika is underway, and one that Brazil is badly losing, according to the health minister.

巴西衛福部部長表示目前雖居劣勢，但已積極展開對抗茲卡病毒

And it is literally a battle, 220,000 members of the armed forces are going door to door to help in the current mosquito eradication efforts.

將之視為一場戰爭，巴西政府組織22萬名大軍逐戶進行消毒作業

But it’s not just Brazil, Zika has been reported in 24 regions around the world

企圖根治目前的蚊子問題。然而此問題並不僅僅發生於巴西，全球還有24個地方出現茲卡病毒感染案例

mostly in tropical areas.

且大多位為熱帶地區

Each country is issuing warnings, some seem extreme.

這些國家有的發佈警告，有的選擇較為極端的方式

For instance, the government of El Salvador told women to avoid pregnancy for two years!

像是薩爾瓦多政府要求女人兩年內不得懷孕！

As for the zika virus itself, there’s no treatment, vaccine, or cure.

美國疾病控制與預防中心表示目前沒有任何藥物、疫苗、或是療程來對付茲卡病毒

The CDC says the best way to avoid the virus, is to avoid mosquito bites.

他們表示，最好的方式就是避免遭受蚊子叮咬

Now, experts say that a US outbreak is unlikely to occur.

目前專家們宣稱美國不會爆發茲卡病毒大流行

They believe that most cases will happen to those who travel to Brazil and other affected countries. But this summer tons of

他們認為大多的發病原因是曾經前往巴西或是其他疫區旅遊。但是今年暑假會有成千上萬的人

But this summer tons of people will descend on Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games.

但是今年暑假會有成千上萬的人前往里約熱內盧觀賞2016年世界盃

Which some experts are calling “a perfect dissemination vehicle for Zika.”

也因此有些專家稱之為「茲卡病毒的最佳傳播媒介」

If people travel to Brazil, get zika from a mosquito bite,

如果到巴西旅遊時遭受蚊子叮咬後

then return home and get bitten there, the zika virus could transfer to the local mosquito population.

回國又被蚊子叮咬，那麼茲卡病毒可能會傳給國內的蚊子

Which would mean that there is the potential for localized outbreaks in other parts of the world.

這也代表著當地將可能爆發茲卡病毒大流行，且全世界都有可能發生。

Zika is just one of the many viruses and diseases that mosquitos carry.

茲卡病毒只是蚊子攜帶的多種病毒和疾病之一

To find out why they are such good carriers of disease, check out this video right here.

想知道蚊子為什麼是大量疾病的攜帶者，請看以下影片。

Most mosquitos actually fight malaria with their immune responses to parasites.

大部分的蚊子用他們的免疫反應來抗擊瘧疾與寄生蟲。

After mosquitos sucks up its bloody meal, a peritrophic matrix or barrier forms inbetween the bugs lining of their midgate and their blood.

蚊子在吸取血液之後，一個圍食膜或屏障會在他們的中閘室和血液的內膜上形成。

So what are you make of this recent outbreak? What precautions would you take to avoid mosquito bites.

所以你對最近的疫情爆發有什麼看法？你會採取什麼樣的措施來防範蚊子叮咬？

Tell us down in the comments below, don’t forget to hit those Like and Subscribe buttons.

透過下面的評論來告訴我們，也別忘了點贊和訂閱我們。

And keep coming back to DNews so you won’t miss a single episode.

請持續關注DNews，精彩不容錯過！