It is another momentous development in the field of science, experimental Zika vaccines are being tested. The vaccine is said to have first been distributed to volunteers in Houston earlier this week.
The trials will soon begin in cities including Miami, San Juan, and Puerto Rico. Experts are hoping to enroll a large number of volunteers in their target cities in America to also examine if the said vaccine is effective for those who are affected with the virus.
According to the Denver Post, this vaccine is just one of several that researchers are developing to fight the Zika outbreak.
The initial results of the test process would be released by the end of 2017. If the outcome is good, the US Food and Drug Administration could make the cure readily available for people under emergency situations.
"If there is a good vaccine efficacy signal and there is an outbreak in South America, the FDA could make that vaccine available by different mechanisms," the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci said in an interview. "But it depends on the emergent need of the vaccine and the quality of the data."
Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health has warned that the Zika virus could be deceptive. The infection has either no or mild symptoms only. These includes fever, red eyes, rashes, and joint pain.
The Zika virus could also be transferred to a fetus if a pregnant woman is affected with the disease. It can also be transmitted sexually or through a mosquito bite.