Ask Sofia: What is the Latest with Zika?
Zika made headlines last year with news out of Brazil, where some women who’d contracted the virus while pregnant gave birth to babies with smaller brains due to a condition called microcephaly. In addition to brain damage, microcephaly has been linked with feeding issues, developmental delays, seizures, hearing and vision loss, and more.
Recently, federal health officials have fanned the flames around Zika even higher – noting that Zika exposure can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths as well as other complications throughout the entire pregnancy – rather than just the first trimester. And while Zika’s effects in non-pregnant adults were previously considered mild, several cases have shown more severe effects from infected mosquito bites, including brain inflammation and temporary paralysis.
“If you are pregnant, the best things you can do are to avoid travel to infected areas and to take good care of yourself at home. When mosquito season arrives, wear long sleeves and pants as much as you can and avoid areas where mosquitoes breed,” said Dr. Jewelia Wagner. “As always, we are happy to answer questions and help guide you through your pregnancy.”
Funds remaining from the Ebola outbreak have been dedicated to prepare for Zika in the United States and more dollars for vaccines and treatments are being sought. Researchers are expected to begin a clinical trial for a Zika vaccine this fall and have screened several drugs as potential treatments. About 350 cases of Zika have been reported in the United States so far.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to urge pregnant women or those trying to conceive to avoid any countries with Zika outbreaks, and because Zika can be spread through intercourse, men who have traveled to these areas should use condoms with pregnant partners. Likewise, avoiding mosquito bites post-travel can prevent further spreading of the virus.
