Zika -- A Frightening Virus That Every Pregnant Woman Should Know About
A mosquito-borne threat, the Zika Virus, is raising new concerns across the Americas. Although the virus was actually first discovered in Uganda in 1947, it had not been linked to any serious problems until recently. In May 2015, Brazil reported its first locally transmitted case of the Zika virus and since then, it is believed that anywhere from between 400,000 and 1.4 million people have been infected in that country. And it has spread quickly to other countries in South America as well. But it's not just the high infection rates that have authorities alarmed. It is the fact that the Zika virus, which had only been found in Africa and Southeast Asia until recently, has now been linked to a devastating birth defect called microcephaly.
What are the Symptoms of Zika Virus?
One of the reasons why Zika has never raised alarms before is that its symptoms are relatively mild. They include:
- Fever
- Rash
- Joint pain
- Red eyes or conjunctivitis
Anyone who believes they have been infected, especially women who are pregnant and have been traveling in one of the countries in South America where Zika has been reported, should get tested immediately.
What is Microcephaly?
In 2014, before the first case of Zika had been reported, Brazil had only 150 cases of microcephaly. That number has risen dramatically, with almost 4,000 cases being reported between October 2015 and January 2016 in Brazil. Babies born with microcephaly have smaller than normal heads because their brains did not develop properly. These babies may have:
- Delayed motor functions
- Learning disabilities
- Problems with balance
- Possible speech delays
In several of the countries where Zika has been reported, authorities have been encouraging women to delay getting pregnant for several years. These countries include but are not limited to El Salvador, Jamaica, Columbia and Ecuador.
Zika in the United States
At this time, cases of the Zika virus have been reported in several states, including Illinois, Texas and New Jersey. And, tragically, a woman infected with the Zika virus gave birth to a baby with microcephaly in Hawaii. All of these cases so far have involved patients who had been traveling or staying in a country where the Zika virus has been reported. And while Zika is not contagious, some authorities are still worried because the mosquitoes that carry Zika do live in the United States. They are:
- Aedes aegypti mosquito or yellow fever mosquito. This aggressive mosquito is mostly found in Florida, around the Gulf Coast and Florida, but it has been seen much farther north during hot weather.
- Aedes albopictus or the Asian tiger mosquito. This large, black-and-white striped mosquito can be found as far north as New York and Chicago.
Protecting Yourself in the Event of an Outbreak
As of January 2016, there have not been any confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika in the United States, but this virus is frightening enough that everyone should take steps to protect themselves against mosquitoes, including:
- Hiring a pest control company. Most pest control companies will attack a mosquito problem by first, eliminating breeding grounds for the insects, and then applying insecticides to vegetation where the adult mosquitoes may be sheltering. A pest company may also use chemicals to kill mosquito larvae in small bodies of water, such as a retention pond.
- Wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors. It's also important to apply insect repellent on all exposed skin.
The Zika virus is spreading at a frightening rate in the Americas, so it's important to be proactive when dealing with mosquitoes even if there have been no cases reported in the United States to this point.