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What You Need To Know About The Zika Virus

Scientists beieve that mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti, pictured here, are the main vector for transmission of the zika virus to humans.
Rafaelgilo via Wikimedia Commons
Scientists beieve that mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti, pictured here, are the main vector for transmission of the zika virus to humans.

Three pregnant women in Florida and two in Illinois - all of whom had traveled to South America - have tested positive for the Zika virus. Governments in South America and the Caribbean have asked women to avoid getting pregnant, and the CDC now warns US women of childbearing age not to travel to countries where the disease is spreading. That's because the Zika virus has been linked to  a condition called microcephaly, where babies are born with small heads and incomplete brain development.

Wonder why you never heard about Zika until recently? That's because scientists used to consider it fairly harmless. Vox.com will get you up to date: 

Zika virus, explained in 6 charts and maps