Zika: What you need to know

In our medical practice, we have had lots of pregnant patients express concern over the recent media reports about the Zika virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of last week, 2,517 cases of Zika have been reported in the U.S., many of them travel-related. We are also just beginning to see locally acquired cases in this country, all of which have been in Florida.

There is a lot of good information available, but not everything is yet known about the long-term impact of the disease.

Q. What is Zika?

A. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus. Those infected with the virus may not experience symptoms, while some may see mild symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, joint pain or conjunctivitis. Those most at risk for more serious complications are pregnant women. If the virus crosses the placenta and affects the baby during pregnancy, it can cause a birth defect called microcephaly, which is when an infant’s head is much smaller than expected due to abnormal brain development during pregnancy.

Q. Should I change my travel plans?

A. If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant soon, it’s recommended that you not travel in the areas where the virus has been known to be transmitted. Those areas would typically include Central and South America, as well as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and other areas in the Americas. Most recently there has been an outbreak in Miami.

Q. What if I must travel to the affected areas?

A. If travel can’t be avoided, it’s important for pregnant women to take precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, using DEET-related insect repellants and staying indoors at dawn and dusk – peak times for mosquito bites. Although a lot of attention is being given to the Zika virus, there are other mosquito-borne illnesses that people should be concerned about, so it’s important to take these precautions even if Zika hasn’t yet been detected in Kansas.

Q. Can Zika be transmitted to a sexual partner?

A. We now know that that the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted, so if the partner of a pregnant woman is traveling to the affected areas, the best advice is to abstain from sex or have protected sex during the duration of the pregnancy.

Q. What is the incubation period for Zika?

A. If you’re not pregnant and have been exposed to the Zika virus, right now the recommendations are to wait for several months before trying to become pregnant. The CDC currently recommends women wait at least eight weeks after their symptoms first appeared before trying to get pregnant. Men who have been infected by the virus should wait at least six months.

It’s important to remember that this is a fluid situation, so it’s best to check with your physician as recommendations are continuing to change. Another good source is the CDC’s website, cdc.gov, which is where the most up-to-date information can be found.

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Zika: What you need to know."