The Zika virus transmitted by mosquito bites definitely causes severe
birth defects, the Centers for Disease Control announced Wednesday.
That makes it even more important to protect yourself from the bite of
the Aedes mosquito.
Zika poses a particular threat to pregnant women because of a birth defect it causes in newborns called microcephaly and other brain abnormalities.
Many cases have been reported in Brazil, but the Zika virus has also become more widespread in the United States, the CDC said, showing up in as many as 30 states, including California, and in Puerto Rico.
That raises the question: How do you keep yourself safe from something that prevalent? There's no current vaccine available for Zika.
California had 29 confirmed cases of travel-associated Zika as of April 6. None of the 346 confirmed cases nationwide are attributed to bites from local mosquitoes carrying the virus.
However that's not true of U.S. territories. The Aedes mosquitoes, which spread Zika, have been the source of 351 cases in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
FULL COVERAGE: Zika virus outbreak >>
No one can completely avoid getting bit by mosquitoes when traveling to affected areas, but steps can be taken to try to minimize your exposure. Here are 10 tips that may help.
1. Areas affected by the Zika virus include Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. You'll find a map and countries listed on the CDC's website.
If you are pregnant, you shouldn't travel to areas below 6,500 feet in altitude where Zika cases have been reported.
In fact, the CDC discourages pregnant women generally from traveling to places where Zika is spreading (Latin America and the Caribbean).
If you have booked your trip, see if you can cancel and receive a refund due to your pregnancy and the Zika risk at your destination. If you can't get a refund and decide to go, Dr. Amesh Adalja at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for Health Security in Pennsylvania, says: “Practice meticulous prevention.”
2. If you are pregnant and your partner has visited an affected area, the CDC recommends abstaining from sex or using a condom. Experts say Zika virus may remain in semen for months, posing the risk of sexually transmitting the disease.
3. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Make sure you apply it to all exposed skin.
source
Zika poses a particular threat to pregnant women because of a birth defect it causes in newborns called microcephaly and other brain abnormalities.
Many cases have been reported in Brazil, but the Zika virus has also become more widespread in the United States, the CDC said, showing up in as many as 30 states, including California, and in Puerto Rico.
That raises the question: How do you keep yourself safe from something that prevalent? There's no current vaccine available for Zika.
California had 29 confirmed cases of travel-associated Zika as of April 6. None of the 346 confirmed cases nationwide are attributed to bites from local mosquitoes carrying the virus.
However that's not true of U.S. territories. The Aedes mosquitoes, which spread Zika, have been the source of 351 cases in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
FULL COVERAGE: Zika virus outbreak >>
No one can completely avoid getting bit by mosquitoes when traveling to affected areas, but steps can be taken to try to minimize your exposure. Here are 10 tips that may help.
1. Areas affected by the Zika virus include Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. You'll find a map and countries listed on the CDC's website.
If you are pregnant, you shouldn't travel to areas below 6,500 feet in altitude where Zika cases have been reported.
In fact, the CDC discourages pregnant women generally from traveling to places where Zika is spreading (Latin America and the Caribbean).
If you have booked your trip, see if you can cancel and receive a refund due to your pregnancy and the Zika risk at your destination. If you can't get a refund and decide to go, Dr. Amesh Adalja at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for Health Security in Pennsylvania, says: “Practice meticulous prevention.”
2. If you are pregnant and your partner has visited an affected area, the CDC recommends abstaining from sex or using a condom. Experts say Zika virus may remain in semen for months, posing the risk of sexually transmitting the disease.
3. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Make sure you apply it to all exposed skin.
source
No comments:
Post a Comment