Although Zika virus no longer seems to be in the daily news headlines, it very much still exists and still poses a risk to pregnancies. So, in an effort to remind everyone about the risks and keep you up to date about the latest in Zika news, here’s a brief summary of what you need to know about this virus if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
- Zika virus is spread mostly by the bite of Aedes species mosquitoes, but can also be spread through sexual contact.
- Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects, including microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
- There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika.
- Mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, and the continental United States (Florida and Texas). . . .it will basically be everywhere very soon.
- If you’re thinking of traveling to any of the aforementioned areas, you should speak with your physician about the risks. The CDC is currently recommending that women wait 8 weeks and men wait 6 months after the last possible exposure to try to conceive.
- For women who are thinking of getting pregnant and who may be exposed to Zika virus, they should consider having their blood tested for Zika antibodies before they get pregnant. Having a baseline reading would help interpret Zika tests done later in pregnancy.
- For men who are planning on traveling to a Zika area and trying to conceive, they should consider freezing sperm prior to travel. This is fairly easy and inexpensive process that would obviate the 6 month waiting period for them.
Zika virus may have disappeared from news headlines, but the virus continues to spread throughout the world. If you’re planning on traveling to an area with active Zika virus transmission, it’s a good idea to speak with your physician regarding the risks and options for reducing those risks.