According to TEXT 1, several birth defects may be
linked to the Zika virus. These include
TEXT 1
Houston’s Poor Neighborhoods Could Be Prime Zika
Real Estate
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the
potential for the explosive spread of the Zika virus through
the Americas. Margaret Chan, the director of the WHO,
advised that the Americas could be hit by 4 million cases
of Zika this year. The outbreak of Zika virus now centered
in Brazil has been linked to a sudden increase in severe
birth defects including microcephaly, babies born with
smaller heads and brains. The National Public Radio –
USA (NPR) recently reported that other neurological
problems, such as babies born blind, may also be linked
to Zika. Researchers do not fully understand Zika or have
not yet proven causality, but the circumstantial evidence
connecting the Zika outbreak to the sudden, large increase
in birth defects is very strong.
Reports quoted experts who said that Zika was a low risk
to the United States because the U.S. doesn’t have the
poverty and high population densities that have caused
the explosive spread of Zika in Brazil. However, Dr. Peter
Hotez, a tropical disease researcher who lives in Texas,
has warned that poverty and high population density makes
Houston highly vulnerable to a Zika outbreak. He warned
that the whole Mexican Gulf coast is already suffering from increasing levels of tropical diseases spread by
mosquitoes, in particular dengue fever. Because Zika virus
is related to dengue fever and has the same mosquito
vector, the expansion of dengue in the Gulf coast region
is a good indicator of the potential spread of Zika virus.
Adapted from: <http://www.democraticunderground.com/
112796307>
TEXT 1
Houston’s Poor Neighborhoods Could Be Prime Zika Real Estate
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the potential for the explosive spread of the Zika virus through the Americas. Margaret Chan, the director of the WHO, advised that the Americas could be hit by 4 million cases of Zika this year. The outbreak of Zika virus now centered in Brazil has been linked to a sudden increase in severe birth defects including microcephaly, babies born with smaller heads and brains. The National Public Radio – USA (NPR) recently reported that other neurological problems, such as babies born blind, may also be linked to Zika. Researchers do not fully understand Zika or have not yet proven causality, but the circumstantial evidence connecting the Zika outbreak to the sudden, large increase in birth defects is very strong.
Reports quoted experts who said that Zika was a low risk to the United States because the U.S. doesn’t have the poverty and high population densities that have caused the explosive spread of Zika in Brazil. However, Dr. Peter Hotez, a tropical disease researcher who lives in Texas, has warned that poverty and high population density makes Houston highly vulnerable to a Zika outbreak. He warned that the whole Mexican Gulf coast is already suffering from increasing levels of tropical diseases spread by mosquitoes, in particular dengue fever. Because Zika virus is related to dengue fever and has the same mosquito vector, the expansion of dengue in the Gulf coast region is a good indicator of the potential spread of Zika virus.
Adapted from: <http://www.democraticunderground.com/
112796307>
Gabarito comentado
Tradução: O surto do zika vírus agora centrado no Brasil tem sido associado a um súbito aumento de defeitos congênitos graves, incluindo microcefalia, bebês nascidos com cabeças e cérebros menores. A National Public Radio - USA (NPR) informou recentemente que outros problemas neurológicos, como bebês nascidos cegos, também podem estar ligados ao Zika.
Portanto, entre os defeitos congênitos que podem estar ligados ao Zica vírus estão microcefalia e cegueira.
Gabarito do Professor: D
