Zika Virus: What You Should Know
The Zika virus, first identified in Uganda in 1947, and is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that carries dengue virus, yellow fever virus and Chikungunya.
The more people get infected,
the more likely the virus is to spread.
A mosquito bites an infected person and then passes those viruses to other people it bites.People infected with Zika virus don't infect one another. But, just as with malaria, people are the source for spreading the virus. A female mosquito bites an infected person and then can carry the virus to the next person she bites, so when people travel,they can bring the virus with them.
CDC Travel Alert to Areas Afected by the Zika Virus.
Pregnant women are urged to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. The CDC has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This alert follows reports in Brazil of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant.
CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant:
Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women, and wmen trying to become pregnant who must travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.
The Zika virus is transmitted by the same mosquito that also can transmit Dengue, Chinchengkuya and Yellow Fever, this is an Aedes mosquito. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Four in five people who acquire Zika infection may have no symptoms. Illness from Zika is usually mild and does not require hospitalization.