Thursday, August 04, 2016
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta earlier this week recommended all pregnant women in the United States be assessed for possible Zika virus exposure during all prenatal visits. Assessments enable health care providers to determine which patients should be tested for Zika.
“The CDC first began projecting the virus’s progression earlier this year and we’ve been providing education and guidance and referring potentially exposed patients for testing since then,” said Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak OB-GYN Samuel Bauer, M.D.
“I am confident in the comprehensive screening process we offer at Beaumont to provide patients with the most up-to-date information on their status,” Dr. Bauer said.
The latest CDC advisory comes in the wake of 11 new Zika infections acquired in south Florida, all within a one-mile radius, bringing the state and U.S. total to at least 15.
Previously reported cases of Zika in the United States occurred via exposure in other parts of the world. Fortunately, the mosquito known to carry the virus are not currently found in Michigan and there’s little likelihood mosquito-borne transmission will take place here, Dr. Bauer said.
As part of their assessment, pregnant women will be asked questions aimed at determining their risk, ‘Have you or your partner been to a CDC identified transmission area in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, certain Islands in Oceania and the Pacific Ocean, or the one-mile radius in Florida?’ Dr. Bauer said. Anyone who’s traveled to these areas, or the affected area of Florida since June 15, is at risk.
The virus has been found in semen up to 62 days after infection, according to Ray Bahado-Singh, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology chair for Beaumont hospitals in Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak and Troy.
Zika is contracted through:
- bites from infected mosquitos
- sexual transmission
- exposure to bodily fluids including blood and semen
Dr. Bauer said he’s hopeful recent developments will inspire more funding for research, including vaccine research, as well as distribution of emergency funds to local entities facing Zika related challenges.
Two vaccine studies have begun in the past two weeks, one sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the second by a private company, Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, the vaccine isn’t likely to become available to the general public until 2018.
“We are continuing to learn about the intricacies of the virus and how it affects pregnancy,” Dr. Bauer said.
In the end, Bauer stressed, prevention is key and avoiding exposure is best.
When traveling to areas where Zika has been transmitted through mosquitos, women should take all precautions to avoid getting bitten, including the use of EPA-approved bug spray with DEET, covering exposed skin, staying in air-conditioned or screened-in areas and treating clothing with permethrin.
We are continuing to learn about the intricacies of the virus and how it affects pregnancy.
Dr. Bauer
When used as directed on the product label, EPA-registered insect repellents, particularly those with DEET and permethrin, can be used safely during pregnancy.
These protective measures should be followed both during the day and at night, as the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of the Zika virus, feeds primarily during the day, as well as at dusk and dawn.
All pregnant couples and those planning to get pregnant should keep abreast of the most up-to-date information.
“Recommendations for pregnant women and the Zika virus will continue to change, often on a daily basis,” Dr. Bauer said. “Pregnant women should contact their obstetricians with questions and refer to the CDC website for the latest recommendations.”