Zika Virus- Travel and Pregnancy Notices

Posted by Carolyn Martin on January 21st, 2016 Posted in: Public Health

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For some of us the Zika virus is something new.  However, it was actually identified in the 1940’s in Uganda. The Zika virus was considered a rare disease primarily located in African countries with a smattering of occurrences in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In May 2015 the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert confirming infections in Brazil where it has been noted that over 3,500 babies have been born, since this past May, with microcephaly. It is not known for sure if the Zika virus is responsible for this outbreak of microcephaly but many doctors believe there is a connection. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can be transmitted from pregnant mother to baby. Symptoms of the virus are typically mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, headaches, and red eyes which lasts from a few days to a week. The virus has not been reported in the United States except through returning travelers though just last week health officials in Hawaii reported a recent birth in which a  baby with microcephaly had been infected with the virus whose mother had been in Brazil last May. The Zika virus is spreading throughout the Americas and was reported in Puerto Rico this past December. Because there is no known treatment or vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a health advisory for travelers to 14 countries and territories in the Americans where Zika has been reported and has developed interim guidelines for pregnant women or wish to become pregnant who are considering travel to areas with outbreaks of Zika virus.

Microcephaly is not a common birth defect.  Only about 2-12 babies per 10,000 live births result in microcephaly. The causes are unknown though some are caused by changes in genes while other causes may be exposures to infections, drugs, or chemicals or due to a lack of nutrients.  Researchers are studying to see if a link exists between the Zika virus and microcephaly.  The CDC has created a webpage specifically on Zika and pregnancy at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/index.html

If you are someone you know is thinking of escaping the cold and traveling somewhere warm to areas where the Zika virus has been reported, please take the time to read about Zika and other travel health information while making your travel plans and strongly reconsider visiting areas with reported Zika virus cases.  It is recommended that physicians ask their pregnant patients about their recent travels and any symptoms they may be experiencing and to recommend postponing trips to areas on the CDC Zika alert list.