Babies with Zika virus malformations Three babies were born with malformations associated with infection with the Zika virus, and three others appear as probable cases. The most common malformation is microcephaly, but other associated complications may also occur as part of congenital zika syndrome (SZC) or congenital syndrome associated with zika. Health authorities had predicted the increase in this type of cases. Only last year, it was possible to confirm with laboratory tests the infection with this virus of 150 pregnant women. Of these, between 25% and 30% has already given birth.
Questions about Zika Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (
Aedes aegypti and
Aedes albopictus). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week, and many people do not have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
Pregnant Women How to protect yourself? Until we know more, CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women. Do not travel to areas with Zika. If you must travel, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first and take steps to plan for travel.
Protect yourself during sex How Zika is spread through sex? Zika can be passed through sex from a person with Zika to his or her partners. Sex includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex and the sharing of sex toys.
Zika Brings Multiple Inequalities to Light While Zika really can affect anyone, we also know that women who are faced with multiple inequalities are likely to be affected disproportionately…. We know how to try to reduce risk of Zika [at] multiple levels—it’s wearing bug repellent, it’s using screens on your windows, using air conditioning.
Zika virus Overview Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (
Aedes aegypti and
Aedes albopictus). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week, and many people do not have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms.
What you need to know Many areas in the United States have the type of mosquitoes that can spread Zika virus. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and can also bite at night. Also, Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners.
Best repellents against mosquitoes Experts recommendations to protect us from zika and other diseases like dengue or chikungunya, which affect most of our region, is to use mosquito repellent. This, in addition to other precautions (wear clothes that cover our arms and legs, cover water tanks or swimming pools and leave no water remaining when watering the pots), will help us to keep the Aeades aegypti, the main transmitter of these diseases , at bay.
Half of Brazilian Women Are Avoiding Pregnancy Because of Zika Researchers found that a majority of women in Brazil are avoiding pregnancy because of fears surrounding Zika. Brazil has undeniably been the country hardest hit by the latest epidemic of Zika virus; it leads the world in confirmed cases of infection with nearly 110,000 cases, according to the latest data from the Pan American Health Organization.
Zika & Sexual Transmission Basics of Zika Virus and Sex transmission. Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners. Sex includes vaginal, anal, oral sex, and the sharing of sex toys.
The Role of Men in Zika Prevention Zika prevention efforts have primarily focused on infected mosquitos as the primary mode of transmission. Given the potential negative pregnancy outcomes of Zika, including congenital syndrome and microcephaly, pregnant women and women of reproductive age have been the focus of mosquito bite prevention efforts and messages.
Prevent Mosquito Bites Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Response to Zika in Four Latin American Countries In a new report on Zika in four Central American countries – Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Guatemala – the Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) offers recommendations for improving the social and behavior change communication (SBCC) response to the virus. HC3 visited the four countries in March and April 2016 to quickly take the pulse of the Zika situation and the local response.
Trying to Become Pregnant CDC recommends precautions for women and their partners thinking about pregnancy. Consider avoiding nonessential travel to areas with Zika if you are thinking about having a baby in the near future.
Zika virus precautions and winter travel plans For many Michigan residents, the winter months often include travel to warmer climates. To date, Michigan has confirmed 69 cases of Zika virus disease in travelers, including three pregnant women. All of the Zika cases in Michigan are travel related.
The Importance of Continuous Learning in the Time of Zika According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), pregnant women have the same risk of being infected with Zika virus, which is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, as the general population.
What health communicators can learn from Ebola Since the World Health Organisation declared Zika a global public health emergency in February of this year, much attention has been brought to bear on applying lessons learned during the Ebola crisis of 2014-15.
New insights into how the Zika virus causes microcephaly A study published today in Science shows that the Zika virus hijacks a human protein called Musashi-1 (MSI1) to allow it to replicate in, and kill, neural stem cells. Almost all MSI1 protein in the developing embryo is produced in the neural stem cells that will eventually develop into the baby's brain, which could explain why these cells are so vulnerable to Zika.