What is Zika virus?
Many people don’t even show any symptoms.
But Zika virus can be dangerous to pregnant women’s babies.
Why is Zika dangerous for pregnant women?
The CDC has noted that a Zika infection during any trimester may cause birth defects.
Another report by CDC officials warns that Zika may also trigger clinical seizures and epilepsy in babies.
How can I prevent Zika virus and mosquito bites during pregnancy?
Your best defense is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
And the symptoms, which are mild to begin with, often dont show up right away.
How is Zika transmitted?
Zika is transmitted primarily through mosquito bites, specifically theAedes albopictusmosquitoes.
However, the CDC has not confirmed that.
Zika virus can also pass from a mother to her baby if she is infected during pregnancy.
Should I get tested for Zika?
The CDC doesn’t recommend that everyone get tested.
If you are:
YES:The CDC recommends you get tested as soon as possible.
Your doctor can confirm a diagnosis with a blood or urine test.
If you are:
YES:The CDC recommends you get tested at least three times throughout your pregnancy.
NO:The CDC recommends that you do not get tested.
Ultimately, this is to cut down on the number of false positives.
Your doctor can confirm a Zika diagnosis with a blood or urine test.
Second, most doctor’s offices aren’t set up for testing.
The good news is that researchers at Colorado State University are hard at work on a new Zika test.
Zika treatment
There is no specific treatment for Zika.
If you’re diagnosed, it’s important to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
If you’re pregnant, your doctor will likely order extra ultrasounds to monitor your baby’s development.
Where has Zika been found?
Has Zika been found in the U.S.?
Instead, they traveled to a Zika-affected country, were bitten by a mosquito there, and returned home.
Only 231 cases in the U.S. so far have been locally transmitted (all in Texas and Florida).
A total of 55 have been sexually transmitted or transmitted via other means.
What if Ive been to or live in a place where theres a Zika outbreak?
What if my partner has recently traveled to a Zika-affected area?
Here are the most recent recommendations:
What are the CDC-issued travel guidelines for pregnant women?
However, in February of 2019, the CDC downgraded its travel warning for pregnant women.
Instead, the agency now recommends that you speak to your doc and weigh the risks.
That previously led the CDC to caution pregnant women against traveling there.
In fact, there have been zero cases of Zika reported in 2019 so far.
Is Zika contagious?
As mentioned above, Zika can be sexually transmitted; however, it’s primarily transmitted via mosquito bites.
As of now, there’s no evidence that it can be transmitted through saliva.
Is there a vaccine for Zika virus?
A few iterations show promise, and in 2017, experts began testing them on humans.
However, it’s likely to take at least two more years before we see a readily-available vaccine.
What’s being done to fight Zika?
The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading global response efforts.
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