Hadn’t heard of Zika virus until the last week? Don’t feel bad. A virus spread by mosquitoes that usually causes a mild illness it was, until recently only of interest to scientists and the public health community. Recently however, both the governments of Australia and the United States have issued warnings to pregnant travelers to postpone travel to regions where Zika virus is being transmitted. The reason, a large outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil has been associated with a significant increase in the number of babies being born with a severe birth defect, microcephaly. This is an evolving health situation – the causal relationship between the Zika virus and babies being born with microcephaly requires further scientific study.
So what is known so far? We know that Zika virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito – the same one that spreads the dengue virus. We also know that there are outbreaks of Zika infection occurring in at least 22 countries including Brasil, Samoa and Mexico. It is recommended that pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy, and women that are trying to become pregnant postpone travel to any area where Zika is being transmitted.
As the situation is rapidly evolving, in terms of where Zika transmission is occurring, it is recommended that Australian women in the planning stages of or experiencing pregnancy and who are planning any international travel subscribe to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Travel Bulletin . Readers living in the USA should visit the CDC Travel Health Notices page for updated recommendations on avoiding Zika infection. This will allow them to be updated on whether visiting their planned destination/s may put them at risk of being exposed to Zika.
All travelers visiting areas of Zika transmission are advised to take steps to prevent being bitten by mosquitos. These include:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Use insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin. Always use as directed.
- Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents)
- Use bed nets as necessary
- Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.
Note: Insect repellents containing DEET and picaridin are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children older than 2 months when used according to the product label.
The symptoms of Zika virus disease are usually a mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis. The symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. Many people who become infected with Zika don’t develop symptoms.
There is no current treatment for Zika. The best prevention for being infected with Zika virus is to avoid being bitten by mosquitos.
We also know that the mosquito that transmits Zika is present in northern Australia. It is also present in parts of Florida and Texas. An outbreak of Zika could theoretically occur in these areas if a traveller infected with Zika was bitten by one of these mosquitoes there. If travelers become unwell either while they are traveling, or when they return they should visit a doctor and make sure the doctor knows where they had traveled to – and specifically if it was an area of Zika transmission.
For more information on Zika virus visit the World Health Organisation website.
You may also be interested in: Traveling while pregnant – important advice for staying healthy. and “How to avoid mosquito spread infection.”
