CDC Addresses Zika Virus: Abstain from Sex During Pregnancy

The CDC recommended that all pregnant USA women consider postponing travel to the areas where the Zika virus is spreading, including 24 countries in Central and South America.

Once infected, only about one in five people with Zika ever shows symptoms, which most commonly include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

USA health officials on Friday suggested people who live in or have traveled to areas affected by the Zika virus outbreak should use condoms or stop having sex.

In the USA, there have been about 50 cases of travelers diagnosed with the virus, including six pregnant women. “That is why we have teams on the ground now, heading out today, tomorrow and next week to different places to partner with countries around the continent so that we can learn more”, he said.

Researchers also are investigating a possible link between Zika infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition that involves temporary paralysis.

Officials believe the patients contracted the virus through mosquito bites during their travels.

The virus is believed to remain in an infected person’s blood for a week or less.

No cases of the mosquito-born virus have been reported in the United Kingdom, but two adults have been confirmed to have had it in Ireland.

The Zika virus is strongly suspected of causing birth defects in Brazil.

The new CDC guidelines expand the testing recommendations for pregnant women.

As it stands, there have been 11 confirmed Zika virus cases in NY, according to the state Department of Health. There are no vaccines to protect against Zika virus.

Experts greeted Friday’s announcement with caution, saying the sample size was small and noting little is known about how the virus spreads. The cruise industry is also giving pregnant women the opportunity to change previously placed bookings if needed.

In a statement posted to its website, Brazil’s health ministry said that two-thirds of the material gathered during recent field work with an American team would be shipped to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization estimates that it will infect up to 4 million people by the end of the year in this hemisphere.

Brazil responded to complaints it had been slow to share data about the illness.

Keaten reported from Geneva.