What Pregnant Women Should Know About Zika Virus

On Monday, the World Health Organization declared a "public health emergency of international concern" due to the cluster of birth defects potentially linked to Zika virus.   No one is probably more concerned about this connection than the world’s pregnant women, especially those who are living in an area where there is ongoing Zika virus transmission. While the virus’ symptoms (fever, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis) are no cause for alarm and rarely require hospitalization, the disease is suspected of causing severe birth defects like microcephaly, when a baby is born with an abnormally small head. Scientists fear that exposure to Zika virus in the womb may cause some fetus’ brains to stop developing normally, resulting in potential lifelong setbacks like intellectual disability and developmental delays.  The "PHEIC" designation, only the fourth of its kind in WHO history, will draw international resources to help study the association between the mosquito-borne disease and devastating birth defects like microcephaly, potentially expediting research on diagnostic tests, vaccines and cures for the disease.  Here’s what pregnant women need to know about the WHO’s recent announcement: 1. There is no travel or trade ban... WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan emphasized that the PHEIC declaration was not a ban on trade or travel. Because Zika virus itself has such mild symptoms, officials explained, it doesn’t warrant su...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news