Finally, there has been a breakthrough for battling Zika, a virus carried by mosquitoes spreading out in America and the Caribbean. A vaccine, which has been effective on monkeys, is soon to be tested on humans.

Notably, the Zika virus vaccine that worked on mice is effective against the Puerto Rica and Brazilian variations of virus in the monkeys. The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Harvard Medical School analyst found this out last Tuesday, according to The Washington Post.

The success of the Zika virus vaccine on monkeys "brings us one step closer to a safe and effective Zika vaccine," said Dan Barouch, a doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. "But of course, there's a lot more work to do."

The first phase of the testing of virus vaccine on humans will reportedly start in October. Moreover, two other Zika virus vaccines are already in the human testing phase. Inovio Pharmaceuticals had announced last week that it had injected the vaccine on its first participant.

Additionally, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said last Wednesday that its vaccine began human testing this week.

"A safe and effective vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection and the devastating birth defects it causes is a public health imperative," NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci said in a statement Wednesday.

The Zika virus is known to cause mild symptoms of fever, headache, and rash. However, for women infected during pregnancy, babies can be contaminated with microcephaly, a condition in which the newborn has a small head. Children who suffer from microcephaly encounter problems with speech, balance, and movement.

Notably, the threat of Zika virus has led some athletes and celebrities to skip the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It has already spread to mainland United States, hence, the need of a proper vaccination has arised.