Zika Virus Updates From Columbia Experts
Last Updated: August 19, 2016
Zika is a virus spread to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. It usually causes mild illness, with most people sick with the virus getting a slight fever and skin rash. Only one in five people who get the virus experience symptoms, and the symptoms usually last from three to 14 days. The best protection from Zika virus is preventing mosquito bites. The World Health Organization has declared(link is external and opens in a new window) the continuing spread of Zika virus disease in Latin America and the Caribbean a "Public Health Emergency" in reaction to a link between the virus and birth defects and neurological disorders.
This page provides a running update with the latest information and advice on Zika virus from Columbia experts.
Zika virus recommendations from the CDC
Further resources |
Zika virus updates from Columbia experts
Columbia Physicians Share Advice for Patients Worried About Zika
July 29, 2016
Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, Kiran Thakur, MD, and Alok Patel, MD cover questions such as what to do when bitten by a mosquito, advice on traveling to Zika-affected areas, and recommended preventative strategies.
Q&A with Dr. Vincent Racaniello
May 25, 2016
Columbia virologist Vincent Racaniello, PhD, explains the latest scientific findings on Zika virus.
Humans vs. the Mosquito: An Age-Old Battle
May 10, 2016
As Zika and yellow fever pose increasing threats, Columbia public health experts explore efforts to fight the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Zika virus infection of the nervous system
March 10, 2016
Evidence is mounting that Zika virus is neurotropic (able to infect cells of the nervous system) and neurovirulent (causes disease of the nervous system) in humans.
Read more(link is external and opens in a new window)
Zika: A Chance to Expand Reproductive Rights?
March 01, 2016
Wendy Chavkin, MD, MPH, explains why fighting Zika effectively means guaranteeing the right to full and adequate reproductive health care for all women.
Person to person Zika virus transmission
February 25, 2016
Vincent Racaniello, PhD, assesses studies that claim Zika can be transferred by sexual contact.
Read more(link is external and opens in a new window)
Zika virus and microcephaly
February 10, 2016
Columbia virologist, Vincent Racaniello, PhD, explains three recently published reports that together make a compelling case that Zika virus is causing microcephaly in Brazil.
Read more(link is external and opens in a new window)
Q&A on Zika virus with Columbia experts
February 4, 2016
Have questions about the Zika virus? Concerned about travelling to an affected area? Columbia University Medical Center experts offer insight into the arrival of Zika virus in South America and the Caribbean—and what it could mean for you.
What we know (and don’t know) about Zika
February 2, 2016
As the World Health Organization declares a global health emergency, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health faculty explain who is at risk and what we can do to protect ourselves.
The science and virology of Zika
January 28, 2016
The rapid spread of Zika virus through the Americas, together with the association of infection with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, have propelled this previously ignored virus into the limelight. Virologist and Professor Vince Racaniello, PhD, writes about this virus and where it came from.
Read more(link is external and opens in a new window)
Columbia experts available for interviewsVincent Racaniello, PhD, the Higgins Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Physicians & Surgeons Ian Lipkin, MD, the John Snow Professor of Epidemiology (Mailman School of Public Health) and Professor of Neurology and Pathology and Cell Biology (College of Physicians & Surgeons); and Director, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health Stephen Morse, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health Jeffrey Shaman, PhD, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians & Surgeons Please contact CUMC's Office of Communications at cumcnews@columbia.edu(link sends e-mail). |
Zika in the news
The Race for a Zika Vaccine(link is external and opens in a new window) August 19 | New Yorker
Florida Zika Outbreak: Why More Cases Don't Mean the Outbreak is Growing(link is external and opens in a new window) August 17 | ABC
Miami Receives First Travel Advisory for Zika Issued in the U.S.(link is external and opens in a new window) August 2 | WNYC
Playing Catch-Up With Zika(link is external and opens in a new window) August 1 | U.S. News
Why Aren’t Americans Flipping Out About Zika? Because They Already Did Over Ebola(link is external and opens in a new window) July 29 | Pacific Standard
Why we still don’t know all of the ways you can contract Zika(link is external and opens in a new window) July 26 | Quartz
Brazil asks whether Zika acts alone to cause birth defects(link is external and opens in a new window) July 25 | Nature
Lifelong care, heartaches ahead for babies born with Zika in the U.S.(link is external and opens in a new window) July 24 | Washington Post
As Experts Confront the Hazards of Zika, Fear and Uncertainty Hover(link is external and opens in a new window) July 1 | New York Times
Road To Rio: Zika Won't Prevent Olympic Dreams, But The Virus Could Eventually Spur An Economic Nightmare(link is external and opens in a new window) May 23 | International Business Times
How many Zika-infected infants will develop microcephaly and other FAQs(link is external and opens in a new window) May 18 | PBS Newshour
In the War on Zika, a Persistent Fog(link is external and opens in a new window) May 13 | Undark
CDC screens nearly 5,000 travelers for Zika, less than 200 test positive(link is external and opens in a new window) April 15 | CNN
Study: Zika Landed in Brazil 2 Years Before It Was Detected(link is external and opens in a new window) March 24 | Associated Press
Lessons From Rubella Suggest Zika's Impact Could Linger(link is external and opens in a new window) March 22 | National Public Radio
Women Who Brought Zika Fears Home With Them(link is external and opens in a new window) March 14 | New York Times
Could climate change be the culprit in spread of Zika virus?(link is external and opens in a new window) March 9 | Chicago Tribune
Could climate change be the culprit in spread of Zika virus?(link is external and opens in a new window) March 3 | Pacific Standard
Zika virus: Why emergency funding is necessary, and why it shouldn’t be?(link is external and opens in a new window) February 23 | The Hill
Scientists Still Can’t Say Zika Causes Microcephaly(link is external and opens in a new window) February 16 | Motherboard
Zika virus may hide in organs protected from the immune system(link is external and opens in a new window) February 16 | Reuters
What Travelers Need to Know About Zika and Dengue(link is external and opens in a new window) February 11 | New York Times
How a Medical Mystery in Brazil Led Doctors to Zika(link is external and opens in a new window) February 6 | New York Times
There’s no easy way to tell if Zika is transmitted sexually(link is external and opens in a new window) February 5 | Quartz
Can We Predict the Next Pandemic?(link is external and opens in a new window) February 4 | WNYC
US Zika Case Sparks Questions about Sex and Mosquito Germs(link is external and opens in a new window) February 3 | Associated Press
What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus(link is external and opens in a new window) February 1 | Huffington Post
Zika Virus: IOC Says Rio Will Be ‘Safe Environment’ For 2016 Olympics(link is external and opens in a new window) January 29 | ABC News
The Zika Virus Isn't Just an Epidemic. It's Here to Stay.(link is external and opens in a new window) January 29 | Foreign Policy
Should You Get Tested For Zika Virus? A Flowchart(link is external and opens in a new window) January 27 | Huffington Post
What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus and Your Vacation Plans(link is external and opens in a new window) January 19 | DNAinfo
Could Spread of Zika Virus Be Linked to Climate Change or El Nino?(link is external and opens in a new window) January 18 | NBC News