You’ve been hearing a lot about the Zika virus because it has just recently, for the first time, begun to spread widely in the Western Hemisphere (initially in Brazil in 2015). Illness can occur when one is bitten by an infected mosquito, the Aedes type, but only about 20 percent of those infected with the virus even develop symptoms (low grade fever, rash, joint pain, and/or red eyes). The problem is that the virus may cause microcephaly (small head and brain) in the developing fetuses of infected pregnant women. Infection during the first trimester of pregnancy creates the most risk. We know that this association exists because when Zika outbreaks have occurred in other countries around the world, the incidence of microcephalic babies born thereafter has definitely increased. In Brazil, initial data suggests that 39 percent of microcephaly births were linked to Zika.
Twenty cases of Zika infection have been reported in Virginia and all were travel related, not locally acquired. However, if you are pregnant or attempting to conceive, please be mindful and take appropriate precautions to avoid contracting Zika if traveling to an area where Zika has been reported. Two examples are Puerto Rico and Brazil. Searching for “CDC/Zika Basics” on your computer will take you to a complete precautions list.
Ralph Robertson, M.D.
Medical Director of Lackey Clinic
757-886-0608