CDC: Pregnant Women Should ‘Consider Not Going’ to 2016 Olympics in Rio

The CDC said the Zika outbreak in Brazil is “dynamic” and that it will continue to monitor the situation and will adjust these recommendations as needed. The virus has been linked to birth defects in babies born to infected mothers.

This week, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least nine pregnant women who had traveled out to countries affected by the Zika have the virus.

And two more pregnancies are continuing with no reported complications. All of the nine women visited countries in Latin America affected by Zika virus and all of them displayed the symptoms of the disease such as fever, rashes, pain and conjunctivitis. Two women had abortions. All three women showed symptoms of the virus and tested positive for Zika.

For Rupp, a Baltimore County woman expecting her third child, more cases of Zika in the U.S. and Maryland is something she can’t ignore.

Zika rarely causes serious illness, Modie said, but the virus is concerning because of its potential link to serious birth defects in babies born to women infected while pregnant.

Many health experts are convinced that the link between Zika virus and birth defects is a reality but there is no conclusive proof yet, USA Today reports.

Those destinations are among the 30 places now on the CDC’s Zika travel alert. “CDC advises men with pregnant sex partners to use condoms or abstain from sex for the duration of pregnancy”, said Leman. Two have given birth to healthy infants. On Jan. 15, the CDC issued an advisory telling pregnant women to consider postponing travel to areas with active transmission of Zika virus.

“There is no immediate threat from Zika if people have not traveled to known affected areas”, said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer.

While Zika is known to be transmitted through mosquito bites, it may also be transmitted sexually, and the CDC warned that pregnant women who don’t go to the games should take care having sexual contact with male partners returning from the Olympics.

Brazil has seen 59 confirmed cases of microcephaly since the surge was first noticed last October, and another 440 cases are under investigation.

Public Health officials said while no local transmission has not occurred in Los Angeles County, the Aedes mosquito that can transmit Zika is present in the San Gabriel Valley and in the Eastern part of the County.