What pregnant women need to know about the Zika virus
What pregnant women need to know about the Zika virus
From the BabyCenter blog:
If you’ve skimmed the news lately, you might have noticed that a strangemosquito-borne illness called Zika is making headlines.
But what is it, exactly? And why all of the fuss about pregnant women?
Although the Zika virus itself is relatively mild (think fever, rash, joint pain and headaches,) the real concern is how it could affect a growing fetus if the mother is bitten by an infected mosquito. In Brazil, experts are investigating whether the illness could be linked to a birth defect called microcephaly— a condition characterized by incomplete brain development and a small head. A surge in babies born with microcephaly this past year in Brazil has even prompted health officials to temporarily advise women against becoming pregnant.
So far, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. A confirmed case was reported in Texas this month, although the virus was contracted by a person who had recently traveled outside of the country. (It’s important to keep in mind that you cannot “catch” Zika from an infected person. This is strictly a mosquito-transmitted disease.)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges pregnant women who are traveling to affected areas to take several precautions for avoiding mosquito bites. These include: Using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants and staying in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.
Read more about Zika and how it can affect pregnant women.
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