The threat of the Zika virus affecting pregnancies has taken the world by storm. The following article contains the information we have on how Zika affects pregnancy and what prevention methods there are. Fortunately, the Zika virus is not in Montgomery County or even the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three infants have been born in the U.S. with Zika virus caused birth defects. All of these cases were related to travel to Zika hotspots and the virus is not found in the U.S. mosquitoes.
The current focus on the Zika virus and pregnancy is the risk of a baby being born with microcephaly. In May 2015, microcephaly cases started to appear rapidly in Brazil. The Zika virus had human cases starting in 1952, but the cases were few and far between. Now the rise in the number of cases has become a global concern. Since the first reports of a link between microcephaly and Zika, scientists around the world have been researching the link between Zika, pregnancy, and microcephaly. CDC scientists have recently stated that there is enough evidence to conclude the Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly. Researchers are still collecting data to better understand the Zika virus’ impact on mothers and their children.
The Zika virus is unique in that unlike other viruses spread through mosquitoes, it is also sexually transmitted. What we know is that pregnant women can be infected with the Zika virus and it can be passed to her fetus. The primary way for a woman to get the virus is for her to be bitten by an infected mosquito, but the virus may also be spread by a man to his sex partners. Zika virus can additionally be passed to a fetus during pregnancy or at delivery. One of the first steps to prevent getting Zika through sex is for potentially infected male partners of pregnant women should either not have sex during the pregnancy or use a condom every time they have sex. The potential to be infected with Zika is related to having lived or traveled in the areas with the Zika virus. Condoms must be worn correctly and during all types of sex to be effective. The safer method is to abstain completely from sex during pregnancy. Pregnant women should also be talking with their healthcare provider or doctor if they have recently traveled. This is true even for pregnant women that do not currently feel sick.
The prevention methods for avoiding Zika virus infection are the same to prevent any disease from mosquitoes. One of these is to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Having screens on your windows and doors as well as staying in air-conditioned places will keep the mosquitoes outside. Use Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents to avoid mosquito bites. Also remove mosquito breeding sites like containers with water standing in them. Pregnant women should not travel to any area where Zika is known to be. If you must be in one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider or doctor first. They will be able to give you steps to prevent mosquito bites while there.
Obtaining the Zika virus from a mosquito is not an issue in Indiana because the virus has not been found in our mosquitoes. The main concern is for people traveling. The existing locations for the Zika virus are shown in the chart.
Existing evidence indicates that a Zika virus infection in a woman not pregnant at the time of infection should not pose a risk for future pregnancies. This is only after the woman’s blood has been cleared of the virus. It is also likely that once a person has been infected with the Zika virus, they are protected from future Zika infection.
A group of experts at MotherToBaby can answer any questions you have by phone, text or chat. They have both English and Spanish speaking experts. This service is confidential and freely available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (local time) Monday through Friday. You can call them at 1-866-626-6847 or text questions to 855-999-3525 (standard text messaging rates may apply). Another way to contact MotherToBaby is to chat live or email them through their website of the same name.
Erin Biesterveld, a second year Purdue University MPH student, is serving as an intern with the Montgomery County Health Department.
