Local doctors urge against panic on Zika virus

The latest Zika virus first broke out in Central and South America, before cases were reported in the U.S. It is transferred via mosquitoes and has very little effect on adults. However, unborn children can develop microcephaly, which is an abnormally small head.

Symptoms for adults are almost flu-like, and they rarely even know they have the virus. However, doctors have grown worried over the virus. Dr. Richard Besser with ABC points to Brazil, where “more than 4,000 babies [have been] born with severe brain damage,” that could be related to the outbreak.

Other doctors such as Dr. Daniel Jackson from the University Hospital in Columbia say, “Relax and take a deep breath; there is a lot of information going around on the internet. It’s important to get your information from a reliable site.”

He also says that this particular virus can only be spread via a mosquito, and that people who are planning to travel, keep your plans.