Microcephaly Zika and microcephaly: Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Zika and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.
Zika & Blood Transfusion On August 26, 2016, FDA issued revised guidance, recommending that blood centers in all states and U.S. territories screen individual units of donated whole blood and blood components with a blood screening test authorized for use by FDA under an investigational new drug (IND) application, or with a licensed test when available.
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.
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.