Global Health
5 Things Nurses Need to Know About Zika Virus
Be prepared to reply questions and counsel patients appropriately. For full updates on Zika virus, visit
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Zika virus was first documented in May 2015 in Brazil. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, although transmission through blood transfusion and sexual contact has been reported. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Although rare, there have been cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in patients with suspected Zika virus infection.
There have been reports of poor pregnancy outcomes and microcephaly in infants of moms infected with Zika virus. Further research into this causal relationship is ongoing, but to be cautious, the CDC recommends that pregnant women and people attempting to conceive avoid travel to areas where Zika virus transmission has been documented.
*Ask all pregnant women about recent travel, especially travel for areas where Zika virus transmission has been documented.
*Ask all pregnant women in regards to the occurrence of symptoms suggestive of Zika virus disease during travel or within the two weeks before travel.
*For recent travelers, be alert for ultrasound findings suggestive of fetal microcephaly or intracranial calcifications. If present, Zika virus testing is indicated (in consultation with state or local health departments).
In pregnant women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection, fetal growth and anatomy ought to be monitored with serial ultrasound examinations. Referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or infectious disease specialist is beneficial. There isn’t any specific treatment for Zika virus; supportive care is beneficial.
To prevent Zika virus infection and other mosquito-borne diseases, Recommendations turn on:
*Use insect repellents as directed. (If you employ each sunscreen and bug repellent, apply the sunscreen first.)
*Wear clothing treated with permethrin.
*Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
*Keep mosquitoes out and, if vital, sleep under a mosquito net.
*Remove standing water from pots, buckets and other containers.