Evil spammers use Zika fears to spread computer viruses

Spammers are using the Zika virus to spread their own online sickness, according to a prominent cyber-security company.

Computer users in Brazil — center for the current mosquito-borne outbreak — have been receiving emails purportedly from Brazilian health and wellness website Saúde Curiosa, which means Curious Health.

It urged email recipients to click links saying “Eliminating Mosquito! Click Here!” and “Instructions To Follow! Download!,” according to researchers at Symantec, based in Mountain View, California.

Those links have led to the malware JS.Downloader, which has been clicked more than 1,500 times, according to Newsweek.

“Newsworthy events on a regional or global level often provide fertile ground for cyber criminals seeking to capitalize on the interest in these events,” wrote Satnam Narang, a senior security response manager for Symantec.

“In this case, the Zika virus’ impact in countries like Brazil is being leveraged, while the potential impact in other countries make it a prime candidate for more malicious spam.”

Meanwhile, in other Zika-related developments Monday, researchers with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention touched down in Brazil, in hopes of learning more about the outbreak’s roots.

“Having the data at this point in time are very critically important for understanding the impact Zika might be having in the future and as it spreads in the region,” J. Erin Staples, a CDC medical officer leading a 16-member team of epidemiologists, told NPR.

Also on Monday, officials in Dallas will consider moving up an annual mosquito-fighting public education campaign by a month to March 1, according to KXAS-TV.

The annual campaign includes radio ads telling Big D residents to drain standing water, avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk, apply mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to protect against bites.

So far in this recent outbreak, no American has been infected by Zika from a mosquito bite here in the United States. American patients have only fallen victim while traveling abroad.