People started to become increasingly concerned about things to know about the Zika virus in 2016 as its complications as they relate to pregnant women and their babies became more pronounced and known.
The fact that the hosting rights for the 2016 Summer Olympics were awarded to Brazil, where it is most concentrated, has also caused more and more people to look up things to know about the Zika virus.
How Does It Spread?
The Zika virus primarily spreads in one of three ways. The most common one is through mosquito bites; if you are bitten by an infected mosquito, you may become infected yourself. Also note that if you are infected, you could also transmit it to a biting mosquito who then passes it along to others. Men can also transmit it during unprotected sex. However, the one transmission method that causes the most concern for many is that it can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy.
Most Have No Symptoms
Those who are infected with this disease can experience a variety of symptoms such as red eyes, fever, headaches, rash or joint pain, but 80 percent of infected people show no symptoms while others will often attribute the usually mild symptoms to something else and not realize that they have been infected with the Zika virus. In fact, the mildness of the symptoms is why most do not go to a hospital. However, that is exactly why it is so important to get tested if you are having or attempting to have a baby.
What Happens to Infected Babies?
Unfortunately, the birth defects experienced by infants who receive the Zika virus from their mothers can be significant. These can include hearing or eye issues, miscarriage or stillbirth. Another possible effect is an undersized head, microcephaly, which often results in intellectual disability and a lower life expectancy as issues resulting from this are generally not fixable. However, it is important to note that having an undersized head does not necessarily mean that these things will occur.
How Long to Wait
Those looking to get pregnant should wait at least eight weeks after Zika virus symptoms appear while men looking to get their partners pregnant should wait at least six months. The latter recommendation is a result of it lasting longer in semen. Of course, these recommendations do not apply to the 80 percent of infected individuals who never experience symptoms, so make sure to see your health care provider if you believe you may have been infected, you have visited a place where it is more common or you had unprotected sex with a man from those areas.
Where Is It?
Of the things to know about the Zika virus, this is perhaps the most important. It has taken over much of the Americas, spreading out from Brazil in 2015 and expecting to reach every country in this part of the world except for Chile and Canada. It also existed in areas of the world such as Africa, Asia and Oceania prior to 2015. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was released on June 22, 2016, stated that of the 820 cases that had been reported in the United States prior to that point, zero were “locally acquired mosquito-borne cases.” However, that remaining at zero was expected to change, and its increasing impact on the United States will continue to be one of the most important things to know about the Zika virus.
Unfortunately, this disease will likely expand around the world before it regresses. For that reason, it is important to continue to add to your knowledge of things to know about the Zika virus for the foreseeable future.
