Adverse Outcomes in Pregnant US Women with Zika Virus

News outlets discuss findings from two CDC reports on Zika virus among travelers to Latin America and the Caribbean, including pregnant women and the sexual partners of those travelers.

Zika virus has recently been linked with serious health problems in pregnant women, primarily a birth defect known as microcephaly in children born to women who had a Zika infection.

“We really encourage pregnant women to postpone travel to Zika-affected areas”, Dr. Mertz said.

The IOC has expressed confidence in measures being taken against the virus in Brazil – spraying and removing standing water – and is following the advice of the World Health Organization.

A pregnant Spokane woman in her 20s contracted Zika virus during travel, but she has since delivered an apparently health baby, state and county health officials reported Monday.

While public health and medical professionals are very familiar with many mosquito-borne diseases, there is still much that is being actively studied about Zika virus disease, including its transmission through sex, blood and other avenues.

While the Zika virus can be transmitted sexually, it is primarily spread by mosquito bites. Two women also chose to have abortions, and two had children who appear to be healthy.

The Federal Drug Administration on Friday posted an emergency authorization for a new CDC laboratory test for the Zika virus.

Zika infection. The mother miscarried at eight weeks, and an analysis of the fetus detected Zika virus.

According to the report, the cases point to the first trimester as potentially the most risky time for a woman to be infected with Zika.

In Arkansas we have had only one case, and that was from someone who traveled to an area where Zika infections are occurring.

What should I do if I am pregnant and have traveled to an area where Zika is found?

This is the second confirmed case of Zika virus infection in a returning traveler to Washington state.

All nine women reported at least one of Zika’s four most commonly observed symptoms – fever, rash, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and joint pain.

CDC has some of the world’s leading experts both in diseases spread by mosquitoes and in birth defects.

Still, a Zika outbreak in the Americas has caused concern among some people considering attending the Games, and CDC’s advisory could increase pressure on organizers who have so far downplayed any threat that health concerns could hurt attendance.