Background
With no current treatment available for Zika infection and no vaccine available for its prevention, the best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
The bite of a specific mosquito, the Aedes species, spreads the Zika virus to humans.
Zika is of particular concern for pregnant women. After a pregnant mother is bitten, the virus can be passed to her fetus and cause microcephaly — a birth defect marked by a baby having a small head and brain that hasn’t developed normally — or other fetal brain defects.
Transmission of Zika to the fetus can occur in any trimester. While there is still much to be learned about the risks of Zika in pregnancy, but it appears:
- Microcephaly occurs in one to 13 percent of babies born to mothers infected in the first trimester
- Stillbirth, small growth and other ultrasound abnormalities occur in 29 percent of infected mothers in all trimesters
Symptoms
Many people infected with Zika virus will have only mild — if any at all — symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and headache. Only 20 percent of people infected with the Zika virus will have these symptoms, which can last for several days to a week.
Once a person is infected, the incubation period for the virus is three to 14 days.
Diagnosis, testing and transmission
The diagnosis of Zika infection is determined by blood tests of the pregnant mother called IgM and PCR. All pregnant women should be tested if they have had possible exposure to Zika virus through travel to a country with a known Zika transmission or sexual exposure to someone with Zika infection. Testing to assess risk for sexual transmission is currently not recommended.
Sexual transmission of Zika has been reported, including male-to-female and female-to-male transmission. The best way to prevent sexual transmission is to use condoms. Pregnant women who have sex partners who live in or have traveled to an area with active Zika virus should use condoms or abstain from sex during the duration of the pregnancy.
Travel
Pregnant women should not travel to areas where Zika outbreaks are known, including some areas within the continental United States. In general, the area to avoid includes all countries from Mexico to Argentina. Areas that pregnant women should avoid include:
- Specific areas of Florida, including the Miami area
- Puerto Rico
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Panama
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Brazil
- Belize
Pregnant women and their partners who must travel to one of the affected areas should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip and decrease the risk of sexual transmission.
Potential for Aedes mosquitoes in the United States
The CDC website includes a map of the United States showing potential regions where the Aedes albopicturs and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes could be found. The maps include areas where the mosquitoes area or have been found previously and represent the CDC’s best estimate of the potential range of the mosquitoes in the United States.
Based on the CDC maps, South Dakota is out of the range for the mosquitoes, but Iowa, southern Minnesota and eastern Nebraska are potential regions.
Prevention
The Aedes species mosquitos are known as aggressive daytime biters, but can also bite at dusk, dawn and during the night. The best way to prevent Zika infection is to avoid exposure. Precautions to take to avoid mosquito bites include:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellants
- Use repellants containing DEET, as those with DEET and permethrin are safe during pregnancy
- Stay in air-conditioned or screened-in areas
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Treat clothing with permethrin or buy pre-treated clothing
- These protective measures should be followed during the day and night.
Women who want to become pregnant
Those living in areas with ongoing transmission of Zika virus might decide to delay pregnancy. Women with possible exposure to Zika virus and are not showing symptoms and those who are diagnosed with Zika should wait at least eight weeks from symptom onset or exposure to attempt pregnancy.
Male partners diagnosed with Zika virus should wait at least six months from symptom onset to attempt pregnancy.
Men who have possible Zika virus exposure without clinical illness consistent with Zika should wait at least eight weeks after possible exposure before attempting pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika virus through breastfeeding. Although the presence of Zika virus in breast milk has been reported, it is in very small amounts, unlikely to be harmful to the neonate.
Infection through oral intake is not known. As with adults, any effects of neonatal infection are likely to be mild and short-term.
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Posted In Health Information, Pregnancy, Women's
