<human>: I've been hearing a lot about the Zika virus lately. What is it, and how is it transmitted?
<bot>: The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first identified in 1947 in Uganda. It is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but can also be spread through sexual contact with an infected person. Symptoms of Zika include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle or joint aches. Severe symptoms are rare, but include Guillain-Barre syndrome (a neurological disorder), microcephaly (severe brain damage) and other birth defects.