human
I've been hearing a lot of news about the Zika virus. Is it a serious health concern?
assistant
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe birth defects when pregnant women are infected. It has been linked to microcephaly in babies born to women who were infected during pregnancy. In addition, the virus has been associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes temporary paralysis and sometimes death. There is no vaccine available for the Zika virus, so prevention involves avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellents and wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors.