Zika Virus

Our Approach

Our infectious disease specialists understand the risks and treatment options for diseases like Zika. Whether you are looking for guidance before you travel, have concerns about potential exposure or have contracted this disease our providers are here for you.

What is the Zika virus?

The Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. But evidence is mounting that the virus may also be transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses, causing serious congenital anomalies. These Zika birth defects include microcephaly (when the baby's head and brain is smaller than usual) and other serious fetal brain defects.

The virus has also been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder that damages the nervous system. In rare cases, the virus has been transmitted sexually by an infected male partner.

A history of the Zika virus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the first human cases of Zika were detected in 1952. Since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported primarily in:

• Pacific Islands
• Southeast Asia
• Tropical Africa

In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika infection in Brazil. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Zika virus will likely continue to spread to new areas.

What are the symptoms of Zika virus infection?

According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of Zika are:

• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Rash

The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People often don't get sick enough to go to the hospital and rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected.

How to avoid spreading the Zika virus

Once a person has been infected, they are likely to be protected from future infections. But the CDC recommends that travelers returning to the U.S. from areas with Zika should try to prevent the spread of it. To do this, they should avoid mosquito bites for three weeks, even if they do not feel sick. These measures can help prevent the spread of Zika to U.S. mosquito species.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine available to prevent Zika virus.