Zika Virus News and Research

Latest Zika Virus News and Research

New vaccine could protect unborn babies from Zika virus

Until recently, the Zika virus was not a priority since it affected relatively few people and the cost of creating a vaccine was estimated at EUR 149-468 million. But the spread of Zika in the Americas and discovery of a link with reduced head size and brain damage in babies of women infected while pregnant changed that.

20 Jul 2018

Researchers to investigate role of hormones in mosquito's ability to use human blood for egg production

Entomologists at the University of California, Riverside have received a five-year grant of $2.44 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, to investigate the role hormones play in the female mosquito's ability to use human blood for egg production.

16 Jul 2018

Purdue startup to create sensor that provides early detection of mosquito-borne diseases

A startup created by Purdue University professors is developing a sensor that can detect dangerous mosquito-borne tropical diseases faster and at a lower cost than current methods, giving health officials time to take action before the viruses are transmitted to humans.

13 Jul 2018

New class of chemical compounds has potential for treating Zika virus and RSV

A new and promising class of chemical compounds has major potential for treating Zika virus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, according to a new study by University of Alberta scientists. The next step is to develop a drug.

12 Jul 2018

Scientists take a deep dive into differences between Zika and dengue virus

More than two years after reports of skyrocketing Zika rates surfaced worldwide, questions still loom about this complicated virus.

6 Jul 2018

Scientists use stem cells to uncover why the Zika virus is so infective

Researchers have made an important discovery about the Zika virus that could lead to the development of more effective measures to protect people.

5 Jul 2018

Zika virus-related pregnancy loss in humans may be more common than thought

Fetal death in utero occurred in more than one-fourth of monkeys infected in the laboratory with Zika virus in early pregnancy, according to new research published in Nature Medicine.

3 Jul 2018

Undetected Zika infections may be cause stillbirths and miscarriages

A collaborative study between six of the National Primate Research Centers shows pregnancy loss due to Zika A infections that don't cause women any symptoms may be a common but unrecognized cause of miscarriages and stillbirths.

2 Jul 2018

Researchers conduct survey to understand people's perceptions on Zika virus

In a summer outbreak that posed significant risks to pregnant women and their fetuses, 29 people in Miami-Dade County were infected with the Zika virus between late June and early August of 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

30 Jun 2018

BWH researchers develop rapid Zika detection test using mobile health technologies

The Zika virus, which continues to cause microcephaly and other neurological complications in infants whose mothers were infected during pregnancy, remains a public health concern.

29 Jun 2018

Scientists discover secret to success of antiviral gene

It's been known for years that humans and other mammals possess an antiviral gene called RSAD2 that prevents a remarkable range of viruses from multiplying.

25 Jun 2018

Friendly mosquito could be the next big step in malaria eradication

Oxitec, a company based in the UK, have developed what they call “Friendly mosquitoes”. These are bio-engineered male mosquitoes that would mate with the female to result in baby mosquitoes that die before they reach adulthood. This death before adulthood would be only for the female offspring.

25 Jun 2018

First human Keystone virus infection reported

Another deadly virus called the Keystone virus that could cause serious brain infection and is transmitted by mosquito bites has been found for the first time to be infecting humans. Until now the virus was noted to infect only animals.

22 Jun 2018

Rhesus macaque model could be useful to test therapies for congenital Zika virus syndrome

Rhesus macaque monkeys infected in utero with Zika virus develop similar brain pathology to human infants, according to a report by researchers at the California National Primate Research Center and School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, published June 20 in Nature Communications.

21 Jun 2018