Patient discussions
General information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has produced a useful overview page:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced useful information pages:
Mosquito bite prevention
Patients should be advised to avoid mosquito bites in at least the first week of illness by using the following measures:[129][130]
Wearing clothes that cover as much of the body as possible (e.g., long-sleeved shirts and long trousers); clothes may be treated with permethrin
Staying in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside
Sleeping under a mosquito net (possibly impregnated with insecticide)
Using approved insect repellent (if ≥2 months of age); can be used safely in pregnant and breastfeeding women when used as directed EPA: find the insect repellent that is right for you Opens in new window
Covering cribs, strollers, or baby carriers with a mosquito net
Emptying, cleaning, or covering containers that can hold water to reduce areas where mosquitoes can breed including in and around households.
Travellers returning from areas of ongoing transmission should use mosquito bite prevention measures for 3 weeks after returning to prevent spread to uninfected mosquitoes.[131]
Sexual health
Recommendations for pregnant couples: the CDC recommends that pregnant women with male or female sex partners who live in or have travelled to an area with active transmission should abstain from sex (vaginal, anal, oral) or use barriers against infection (e.g., condoms) during sex for the duration of the pregnancy. Additionally, the CDC recommends that pregnant women talk with their healthcare providers about their sex partner’s potential exposures to Zika virus and symptoms of Zika-like illness.[133]
Recommendations for non-pregnant couples: the CDC recommends that if only the female partner travels to an area with risk for transmission, the couple should use condoms and abstain from sex for at least 2 months after the female partner's symptom onset (if symptomatic) or last possible exposure (if asymptomatic). However, if the male partner (or both partners) travel to an area with risk for transmission, the couple should use condoms and abstain from sex for at least 3 months after the male partner's symptom onset (if symptomatic) or last possible exposure (if asymptomatic).[133]
The WHO now supports the 2-month and 3-month timeframes for women and men, respectively. They also offer specific recommendations for people who live in areas of active transmission.[75]
Zika and pregnancy
Women living in endemic areas should consult local health authorities for advice before becoming pregnant. In Brazil, there are no formal recommendations to avoid pregnancy; the choice to get pregnant is regarded as a personal decision.[135]
Travel advice
The CDC recommends that pregnant women should avoid travel to areas with CDC Zika travel health notices, and follow recommendations to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission during and after travel if travel is unavoidable.[131]
To help pregnant women and others identify areas of Zika risk, the CDC has produced an interactive map that allows people to search for location-specific information. CDC: countries and territories at risk for Zika Opens in new window The CDC Yellow Book: health information for international travel includes the most current travel health guidelines from the US government. CDC: Yellow Book Opens in new window
Advice varies internationally and travellers should stay informed about Zika virus outbreaks:
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