First it was ZIKA, then Chikungunya, now a virus known as
mayaro is emerging from the South American jungles with a vengeance. The mayaro virus has been known to scientists
and physicians for over sixty years, yet it is a relatively unstudied virus;
similar to the case of ZIKA, in which discovery and advancement came about due
to an increase in the virus’s prevalence and virulence. Mayaro is following a similar trend with
outbreaks increasing into the 100,000’s including the first cases in
Haiti. This virus is transmitted to
humans by mosquitoes, however, mosquitoes are not actually the reservoir for
the virus, the virus actually replicates and survives in the populations of
primates inhabiting the same jungles that mosquitoes and humans both interact
with. Symptoms being comparable to Chikungunya with joint pains, chills, fever,
and a rash we could be seeing a potential third player in emerging
mosquito-borne viruses.
Article:
-Ethan Wentworth
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