• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Buyer’s Guide

What is the Zika virus? Can I get it?

02/24/2016 by Leave a Comment

The Zika virus is carried and spread by Aedes mosquitoes. The most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes. Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. As many as 4 out of 5 people who contract Zika have no symptoms at all. The cause for concern is that the Zika infection in pregnant women has been linked to a increased rates of microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with a smaller than normal head. While it is not proven that Zika has caused this condition, the link is strong enough for health experts to warn pregnant women to avoid travel to areas where Zika is being transmitted.

The first cases were reported in the Caribbean and Central and South Americas, but have now appeared in the United States in several women who have traveled to regions where the virus has spread or who have had sexual relations with someone who was infected. The virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, but can also be transmitted through blood or sexual contact.

Can it be prevented?

There is no vaccine to prevent it, so the best prevention, for women who are pregnant or women who are planning to become pregnant, is to avoid travel to Zika epidemic areas unless you absolutely must visit them. Before you travel outside the country, it is important to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website for updates on areas where the Zika virus is being transmitted. At the moment, this includes countries such as Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico – US territory, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela, American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga and Cape Verde.

I am pregnant and I have to travel. What should I do?

If travel is absolutely necessary, talk with your physician first and follow steps to avoid mosquito bites. Use mosquito netting, insect repellant, wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and hats, and stay indoors in well air conditioned areas.

If I’m not pregnant, but contract the Zika virus, do I need to worry about my future pregnancies?

After infection, the virus remains in the blood for 1-2 weeks. According to the CDC, the virus will not cause any issues to a baby that is conceived after the virus has cleared from the body. To date, there is no evidence that a previous infection poses a risk of birth defects in future pregnancies.  Consult with your doctor first, though, if you have been infected with the virus and are considering pregnancy.

Where can I get more information?

It is important to stay informed as more information becomes available. For the latest updates and for more details on the Zika virus, visit the CDC’s website.

Paul Sax, MD, is the Clinical Director for the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Sax also directs the BWH HIV program, and is an internationally recognized expert in HIV clinical care.

Resources and references:

http://healthhub.brighamandwomens.org/the-zika-virus-what-we-know-today#more-12264

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

http://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/Library/DiseasesConditions/Pediatric/Neurological/90,P02610

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

05/11/2021 By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

03/28/2019 By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

brain body parenting

Brain-Body Parenting: 3 Ways Dr. Mona Delahooke’s New Book Can Help Families Thrive

02/22/2022 By Sarah Moore

4th trimester

4th Trimester: How to Survive Baby’s Astounding (and Exhausting!) First Three Months

02/03/2022 By Sarah Moore

Footer

Copyright 2021 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • Which baby nursery theme is perfect for your little one?
  • Brain-Body Parenting: 3 Ways Dr. Mona Delahooke’s New Book Can Help Families Thrive
  • 4th Trimester: How to Survive Baby’s Astounding (and Exhausting!) First Three Months
  • Want a Happy Child? Here are 10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Raise Kids Who Love Life
  • What you might have forgotten to sort out before Baby arrives

Search

© Copyright 2021 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT