Zika Virus - What You Need To Know Course

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the "explosive" spread in the number of Zika virus infections given the wide geographical distribution of the mosquito vector and that there could be 3-4 million Zika infections in the Americas over the next year. Scientists are working on potential vaccines but have warned that they do not expect to have a vaccine available in 2016. This free online course about the Zika virus covers key information points about the disease and its health implications, especially in relation to pregnant women as it has been linked to thousands of birth defects in South America. The course covers topics such as the current geographic spread of the disease, important aspects of symptoms and diagnosis, potential treatments in relation to the development of vaccines against the virus, methods for prevention, and also information about the disease for pregnant women. This course will be of great interest to any learner who lives in or near regions where an outbreak of the Zika virus has occurred and who would like to learn more about the virus and how to avoid becoming infected. It will also be of great interest to all health workers who would like a free resource to help individuals and communities better understand the Zika virus and how an outbreak of it can be controlled.