Scientists believe the Zika virus may have mutated en route from Africa to Brazil. Israeli specialists wondered if a new fever pathology could develop along the way.
Virologists studied scientific materials and found that the Zika virus was discovered back in 1947, but only now there is evidence that fever leads to significant complications. Scientists suggested that a new pathology appeared, which occurred as a result of a virus mutation.
The Zika virus manifests itself in very different ways in different parts of the world. Scientists believe that this depends on the genetics of the fever and on the local people themselves. Perhaps the genetic characteristics of the inhabitants of Brazil are different from those of the peoples of Africa, and therefore the virus could mutate.
In Brazil, the local government has confirmed that a third person has died from the Zika virus. In April last year, a 20-year-old girl died, and in October-November two more people died.
Irina Morskaya