Zika: Science can still do great things

I have been following the terrifying rise in Zika virus cases in the past weeks. When the Ebola virus was so prevalent in the news last year, I was excited that American scientific research and ingenuity contributed to the rapid development of a working vaccine leading to eradication in African countries.

The Zika virus is causing malformations in fetuses, horrible birth defects. I had read that it could be 10 years before a working vaccine against Zika could be developed. The World Health Organization is warning that the cases are “spreading explosively.” But now it has been announced that a vaccine being developed by a U.S. and Canadian consortium could be available for emergency use before the end of year.

Regardless of the science deniers in this country, we still do great things. These discoveries should make us proud.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Zika: Science can still do great things."