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Nearly everyone with access to TV, newspapers, or the Internet has seen the word "Zika" in the news this week. And just as many have probably wondered what it is and what it means for them.
World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan said in a briefing Thursday that the virus was "spreading explosively." One WHO scientist predicted that 3 to 4 million infections would occur in the Americas in the next year.
If you haven't been paying attention to the outbreak, now is the time to start.
Here are some basic facts about Zika, how it could affect you, and what you can do to keep yourself safe.
What does this virus do?
Zika causes carriers' children to be born with microcephaly, or small heads with abnormal brain development.
However, the virus also causes symptoms in adults, including headache, fever, and conjunctivitis.
While government officials have advised against getting pregnant while potentially carrying the virus, it's otherwise not serious. Adults don't typically experience symptoms, and when they do, they can be treated like an average fever.
Where is this outbreak happening?
Prior to last year, Zika was only common in Africa and Asia, according to The New York Times.
Last May, Zika also began to appear in Brazil, and there have been at least 270 infected newborns since October 2015, according to the Associated Press.
Cases have now popped up in more than 20 countries and territories in the Americas, WHO told USA Today. Thirty-one American travelers have returned from trips with the virus. WHO did not immediately respond to NTRSCTN's request for comment.
Experts expect Zika to spread to the U.S. and every other Western country populated by the virus-spreading Aedes mosquitoes, USA Today reported.
Can I get Zika?
If you live in one of the countries where Zika is spreading, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed here, you could get the disease through mosquito bites.
Though two cases of sexually transmitted Zika have reportedly been documented, the WHO said there's not enough information to draw a definite conclusion.
So far, the only known source is mosquitoes.
How can I avoid it?
Given that the symptoms of the virus are mild, traveling isn't dangerous unless you are or may become pregnant. However, the CDC provided guidelines on what precautions are necessary in different countries.
If you end up in one of the regions where the outbreak is occurring, use bug spray, cover your skin, and everything else you'd normally do to prevent mosquito bites, the CDC suggested.
The Zika virus is harmless to most, but it's spreading quickly. If you're pregnant, it's best to avoid countries where it's prevalent. But if you live in one of these places or can't avoid them, pregnant or not, do what you can to keep mosquitoes at bay.
