Zika Virus
Update
Nebraska has
seen its first cases of Zika virus in two travelers returning from affected
countries. Currently, the Zika virus has been found in certain areas with
generally tropical climates and is transmitted to people through the bite of an
infected mosquito. If you are planning to travel and would like to see if the
area you are visiting has been found to be affected then please visit the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov.
Approximately 1
in 5 people infected with Zika become ill.
The most common symptoms include: fever, rash, joint
pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms
lasting for several days to a week. There
are no medicines or vaccines to protect against the Zika virus at this time.
It has also been shown that Zika virus may
spread from pregnant women to their unborn child(ren). Reports of a serious birth defect of the brain, microcephaly (small head size), is being studied. For this reason, the
CDC recommends that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing
travel to known Zika affected areas. It is also recommended that women trying
to get pregnant should talk to their healthcare provider before they or their
male partners travel to Zika affected areas.
As
with all mosquito-bite related illnesses, taking steps to protect from mosquito
bites applies for those traveling to Zika affected areas:
-
Wear
long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever possible.
-
Stay
inside with air conditioning and screened windows and doors.
-
Use
mosquito repellant and reapply every few hours.
-
Eliminate
standing water
If you are a
pregnant woman and have symptoms of Zika virus disease AND you have recently
traveled to an area of the world where the Zika virus is active, contact your
medical provider.