Press Release
How is it spread?
- Zika is spread to humans primarily by the Aedes aegypti This species is rarely, if ever, found in most of the United States, including Utah.
What are the symptoms and how dangerous is it?
- Only about 20% of those infected will develop symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. These symptoms usually last from 2-7 days. Zika illness is usually mild and rarely results in hospitalization or death.
- There is suspicion that Zika may cause microcephaly (a birth defect causing an abnormally small head) in infants due to their mothers being infected while pregnant. While this has not been definitively proven and the risk to pregnant women and their unborn children is unknown, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Global Emergency in order to try to contain the spread of the disease.
- While the WHO has not recommended any travel restrictions at this time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised pregnant women to postpone travel to affected areas. Women who are trying to become pregnant should consult with their doctor before such travel and should follow strict mosquito bite prevention methods.
How is Zika prevented?
- If you travel to a country where Zika is active, you can prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent , wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and removing standing water where mosquitoes live and breed.
- Mosquito control efforts in areas where Aedes aegyptimosquitoes are found.
Where is Zika occurring?
- Locally-acquired Zika infections were first detected in the Americas in May 2015. Local infections have now been reported in over 20 countries or territories in the region. Brazil remains the epicenter of the current outbreak. There have been no local mosquito-acquired cases reported in the United States.
How will the United States be affected?
- With Zika outbreaks in other countries, cases among U.S. travelers will likely increase for a period of time. However, it is unlikely that any large Zika outbreaks will occur in the United States. All current U.S. cases were infected during travel overseas, except one who was infected in Texas through sexual transmission by a partner who had traveled to South America.
Who should be tested to see if they have the virus?
- Laboratory tests for Zika virus infection diagnosis are of limited availability. People can contact their healthcare provider, who should then consult with the Utah Department of Health for approval, if they meet the following criteria;
- Pregnant women with a history of travel to an area with active Zika transmission, up to 12 weeks after returning.
- Men returning from an area with active Zika transmission who have a pregnant partner, up to 12 weeks after returning.
Is there a Zika vaccine?
- No, however there are cooperative efforts being started to develop a vaccine, which may take several years.
More information is available online at: Utah Department of Health: Zika & Pregnant Women
TRAVELER INFORMATION: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html
If you have further questions, please contact Southeast Utah Health Department at (435) 637-3671 in Price, (435) 381-2252 in Castle Dale or (435) 259-5602 in Moab.