Mosquitoes carrying Zika virus expected to reach United States by end of this year, or early next, Beaumont experts say

“For the general healthy person, this does not pose that much of a threat,” Dr. Carpenter said. “The big concern is what having the infection means for a pregnant woman and her baby, due to the strong association between Zika and microcephaly.”

In Brazil, where Zika virus infections have increased exponentially in the last year, Dr. Carpenter said, there has also been a 20-fold increase in the incidence of microcephaly.

“That’s a huge jump,” Dr. Carpenter said.

Microcephaly is a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that has been identified in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The vast majority of Zika virus infections are transmitted by mosquito. Transmission through unprotected sexual contact has rarely been reported.

Currently, the primary carrier of the virus is a species of mosquito known as Aedes aegypti , found in the southern portion of the United States, including Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Arizona.

There is also concern that Zika virus may adapt to be transmitted by a mosquito, known as Aedis albopictus, which has not reached Michigan, but has been found as far north as Illinois.

“I think there’s a chance we’ll see some in Ohio, but it’s largely a wait-and-see thing,” Dr. Carpenter said, adding that he does not know if the mosquitos will reach Michigan, or if the virus will eventually jump species.

The four primary symptoms of Zika infection are fever, rash, muscle/joint pain and conjunctivitis, a painful inflammation of the eye.

Within the general population, only 20 percent of those infected actually get sick, and even then, the symptoms are generally mild, though some may suffer a neurologic complication called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The biggest risk right now is in traveling to areas where infection is “endemic,” including Mexico, the Caribbean, South America and Brazil, said Matthew Sims, M.D., Ph.D., Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak's director of Infectious Disease Research.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are currently advising pregnant women to consider postponing travel to areas with Zika virus activity. Pregnant women who cannot postpone visiting affected countries should consult with a travel clinic such InterHealth, offered at Beaumont, Royal Oak, to learn how to reduce the risk of transmission.

“You can protect yourself from mosquitoes reasonably well, including wearing clothing that covers arms and legs, using mosquito repellent found to be safe for pregnant women, sleeping inside mosquito netting at night and staying out of certain areas,” Dr. Sims said.

If they experience symptoms of the Zika virus within two weeks of traveling to an affected country, testing should be considered; however, pregnant women should follow-up with their obstetrician after travel to an area with Zika virus transmission, even if they do not have symptoms as the risk of infection remains.

While the general population, for the most part, has little to fear from Zika virus infection, travelers need to be aware and protect themselves from other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue and chikungunya, yellow fever, and malaria. They should take proper precautions, Dr. Carpenter stressed.

“If you’re going to travel, just be smart,” Dr. Carpenter said.

For more information about the Zika virus, www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html.