Zika fever also known as zika virus disease is an illness caused by zika virus. Zika virus is an arbovirus in the flavivirus family that includes yellow fever, west nile, dengue, and japanese encephalitis viruses. Between people who are in close contact with one another within about 6 feet via respiratory droplets produced. Zika virus infection during pregnancy presents with similar symptoms as those described for nonpregnant individuals, usually a mild disease. Zika virus disease can often be diagnosed by performing reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction rtpcr on serum. Particularly during the early stages of gestation, infection with zika may cause a birth defect known as microcephaly, in which the baby is born with an abnormally small head and brain. What is zika and why is it a concern during pregnancy. Between people who are in close contact with one another within about 6 feet via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. When a woman had any laboratory evidence of zika virus infection during her pregnancy or when a congenital malformation in her neonate prompted evaluation for congenital zika syndrome, urine, serum, or other relevant samples. If you get zika during pregnancy, you can pass it to your baby. We evaluated 185 pregnant women with potential zika virus exposure.
This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. Adverse outcomes of pregnancyassociated zika virus infection. Zika virus and pregnancy if youre pregnant and think you may have been exposed to zika, see your health care provider how to prevent mosquito bites right away and ask about getting tested. While this means pregnant women and women trying to conceive should take a few extra precautions, there are definitely ways to lower your risk of infection. Cdc offering zika virus tests for pregnant women webmd. Not all mosquitoes carry the zika virus, and not every person bitten by an infected mosquito will get. Zika infection during pregnancy causes microcephaly and other serious brain problems. Dec 15, 2017 zika virus infection during pregnancy presents with similar symptoms as those described for nonpregnant individuals, usually a mild disease. Zika virus is a germ that is spread to people through mosquito bites.
Infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Protect your pregnancy from zika pdf icon pdf 267 kb spanish pdf icon pdf 1 mb. Casecontrol study to assess potential risk factors related to microcephaly including zika virus infection during pregnancy pdf, 1. Pregnancy can be an exciting time in a womans life but may also be a vulnerable period for a woman and her fetus. Zika is spread mostly by being bitten by an infected aedes species mosquito. If you develop symptoms of the zika virus fever, joint pain, rash, red eyes and have recently traveled, call your health care provider immediately. Zika virus information for health professionals ministry. Find fact sheets with information about zika virus and pregnancy. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby, which. Donor screening recommendations to reduce the risk of transmission of zika virus by human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissuebased products.
Donor screening recommendations to reduce the risk of. The goal of the who zika virus research agenda is to support the generation of evidence needed to strengthen essential public health guidance and actions to prevent and limit the impact of zika virus and its complications. Zika virus pdf download ias mains important topics. The disease is mild and selflimited, usually lasting 46 days. Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked to problems in infants, including eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth.
Zika is a virus that is spread primarily by certain kinds of mosquitoes. Heres what you need to know about zika virus and pregnancy, along with tips to keep your risk of infection as low as possible. Women trying to become pregnant zika and pregnancy cdc. Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of infected aedes mosquitoes. If theres a safe time during your pregnancy to travel to an area with risk of zika. The articles are introduced in an editorial by dr steven witkin, bjog scientific editor. Infection during pregnancy is linked to birth defects in babies. Scientists are studying the full range of other potential health problems that zika virus.
Zika virus knowledge among pregnant women who were in areas. Evaluation for infants with possible congenital zika virus infection pdf icon pdf 181 kb. Zika virus and pregnancy this is a special notice for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant soon and are planning to visit a place where zika virus outbreaks have been seen. Prolonged detection of zika virus nucleic acid among symptomatic pregnant women. Most cases have no symptoms, but when present they are usually mild and can resemble dengue fever. Prospective longitudinal cohort study of newborns and infants born to mothers exposed to zika virus during pregnancy pdf, 2. Microcephaly is when a babys head is smaller than expected, compared to babies of the same sex and age. Zika virus was discovered in a sentinel monkey in uganda in 1947. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious. Department of health zika virus information for pregnant. Zika virus testing and outcomes during pregnancy, florida. If a woman gets zika during pregnancy, the virus can pass to the developing baby.
If you do travel and are infected, how likely it is that the virus. The zika virus has been found in semen and vaginal fluid, so if you or your partner is from or has traveled to an area where the zika virus is ongoing, be sure to use condoms throughout your pregnancy. The new virus can spread by touching with bare hands a surface or object that has the virus particles on it, such as a used tissue. Zika virus, pregnancy, microcephaly, aedes aegypti mosquito. Feb 11, 2016 cdc offering zika virus tests for pregnant women. If you are traveling to an area with a zika outbreak as indicated by red areas on the zika map or other areas with risk of zika as indicated by purple areas on the zika map cdc recommends couples trying to become pregnant work with their healthcare providers to carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to areas with a zika outbreak or other areas with risk of zika. Men who are infected can pass the virus to their partners during unprotected sex, even if they dont have symptoms. Skip directly to site content skip directly to page options skip directly to az link. Infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fatal birth defects. The virus is thought to spread mainly from persontoperson. These include a case report, a number of commentaries and debate pieces and list of useful resources.
Zika is a serious concern for pregnant women, their partners and couples planning a pregnancy. Zikaassociated birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities possibly associated with congenital zika virus infection u. Cdc recommends precautions for women and their partners thinking about pregnancy to protect themselves from zika virus infection around the time of pregnancy. As of october 7, 2016, a total of 617 cases of zika virus infection had been identified among new york city nyc residents, including 72 cases among pregnant women. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetal brain, microcephaly and other birth defects. Interim guidance for health care providers caring for pregnant women with possible zika virus exposure united states, july 2017 pdf. Historically, symptomatic zika virus infections were limited to sporadic cases or small clusters of patients online technical appendix table 2. Territories and freely associated states, august 2018 pdf. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that dont develop properly. Scientists now believe that zika virus is a cause of guillainbarre syndrome gbs, a serious condition of the nervous system.
Zika virus which can be acquired from mosquitoes or from sex. People are thought to be most contagious when they are sickest. For women and men who have been diagnosed with zika virus or who have symptoms of zika including fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes after possible exposure to zika virus, cdc. The research agenda identifies critical areas of research where who is. The interim guidance information for lmcs midwives, gps and other health professionals dealing with zika virus in pregnancy has been similarly updated. Does zika cause microcephaly or other birth defects.
Despite government advisories in place since early 2016 recommending that pregnant women avoid travel to areas with active zika virus transmission 4,5, the nyc department of health and mental hygiene dohmh saw an increase in weekly zika virus test requests through the summer for women who had been in such areas while pregnant. Zika virus knowledge among pregnant women who were in. Guidance for healthcare professionals on zika virus infection in pregnancy, developed by the rcog, royal college of midwives, public health england and health protection scotland. Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly. Fortunately, though the news often sounds scary, zika is not being spread by mosquitoes in most parts of the united states, so the risk of getting the virus is extremely low. Potential links between zika virus infection and neurological complications i.
Infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and. Here youll find facts and tips about zika virus and pregnancy, as well as related. The most common signs and symptoms include pruritic rash, arthralgia, conjunctivitis, and lowgrade fever. Zika can be sexually transmitted by someone who has been to areas with zika. Zika virus is a flavivirus, closely related to dengue. Dec 21, 2018 zika virus infections during pregnancy have been linked to miscarriage and can cause microcephaly, a potentially fatal congenital brain condition. While the zika virus rarely causes serious illness in adults or children, the consequences of an infection can be far worse if transmitted during pregnancy. Pregnant women who become infected can pass the virus to their unborn babies. Here we are providing you zika virus topic for upsc mains. The zika virus also may cause other neurological disorders such as guillainbarre syndrome. The virus can cause birth defects, such as microcephaly, in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy. People who contract zika often only experience mild flulike symptoms, such as fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis red eyes, and four out of five people with zika will never exhibit any symptoms. Jun 07, 2019 while this means pregnant women and women trying to conceive should take a few extra precautions, there are definitely ways to lower your risk of infection.
Does having zika virus increase the chance of birth defects. Zika virus and pregnancy this sheet talks about exposure to the zika virus in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If you are planning a pregnancy you should either follow the advice relating to pregnant women, or delay the pregnancy for an appropriate time. Cases of zika virus have previously been reported in africa, southern asia and the pacific islands. Bjog presents a number of articles on the issues surrounding the zika virus and pregnancy. Incidence of zika virus infection in pregnant women is not known infection can occur in any trimester no evidence of increased susceptibility the clinical course is similar in pregnant women and in nonpregnant people. This pattern changed in 2007, when the first major outbreak of zika virus infection. News has been rapidly evolving about outbreaks of zika virus and potential links to microcephaly in newborns, causing concern around the world, especially among women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Heres what you need to know about zika virus and pregnancy, along with tips to keep your risk.
Zika is a virus that is usually spread by infected mosquitoes. Precautions against zika virus should be taken by women and their partners when trying to become pregnant. Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes. In early february 2016, the world health organization who declared the pandemic outbreak of zika virus zikv, predominantly in central and south america, and the potential association of this infection during pregnancy with the development of microcephaly a public health emergency of international concern. Symptoms may include fever, red eyes, joint pain, headache, and a maculopapular rash. Cdc zika screening tool for possible zika virus exposure during pregnancy. In every pregnancy, a woman starts out with a 35% chance of having a baby with a birth defect. Zika virus infection zika and pregnancy what we know pregnant women can be infected with zika virus. Zika virus infections have provided rational pathways for vaccine development and existing antiviral drug development programs for other. This fact sheet provides a summary of information relevant for pregnant women. Zika virus pdf download ias mains important topics hello friends welcome to. Standard precautions to prevent the spread of zika virus and other. Zika can be spread from a pregnant mother to her fetus during pregnancy. Pregnancy management in the context of zika virus infection.
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