2 billion in danger of Zika this summer - are YOU prepared?

Experts predict 2 billion at risk of contracting Zika this summer.

Scientists at the University of Oxford and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle estimate 2.2 billion people are at risk of contracting Zika.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A map published in the journal eLife indicated sections of South America, where the current outbreak is hitting the hardest, threatens more people as mosquito season draws near.

The map specifies which countries were environmentally suitable for the Zika virus, with Africa, Asia Pacific and South America in the most danger. Southeast states in North America and the northern areas of Australia are also at risk.

According to BBC, one of the study's researchers, Dr. Oliver Brady of the University of Oxford, stated: "These are the first maps to come out that really use the data we have for Zika - earlier maps were based on Zika being like dengue or Chikungunya. We are the first to add the very precise geographic and environmental conditions data we have on Zika."

The map revealed 2.2 billion people currently reside in "at risk" areas.

Dr. Brady explained: "Mosquitoes are just one condition needed for Zika to spread but there's a whole range of other ones. It needs to be warm enough for Zika to replicate inside the mosquito and for there to be a large enough [human] population to transmit it."

Though both South America and Africa are suitable environments for the spread of Zika, the number of cases is not as high as expected.

One theory is the population has an immunity, another is misdiagnosis; however, Zika can only be diagnosed within a week of infection - and several infected people show no visible symptoms.

As Zika continues to spread, and has no vaccine or cure, the best chance anyone has to escape the disease is to wear mosquito-repellent, not travel to Zika-infested areas, wear long-sleeve clothing and refrain from sexual activities with anyone who recently traveled to areas known to suffer a Zika outbreak.

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