Developing recommendations related to the Zika virus

The Zika virus story I wrote about last week keeps getting bigger and bigger.  As many of you know, this virus may be causing an epidemic of brain-damaged children in Brazil. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that pregnant women not travel to 24 countries (adding two countries on Tuesday evening) in the Americas where Zika virus has been contracted through mosquito bites.  The CDC also released guidelines for newborns who should be tested for Zika virus on Tuesday.

Another source may be sexual intercourse with scientists detecting two cases of the virus in sperm. However, CDC officials say the evidence is insufficient to warrant a warning for all travelers. While the two instances suggest a "theoretical risk" of sexual transmission, they note the primary vector is clearly mosquitoes.

It is also causing paralysis in healthy adults.  Although the syndrome causing the paralysis, Guillain-Barre, can be see after many infectious, it seems very common after Zika virus infection.

Virologists are working on a vaccine already, but it will at best take years to get approved, so if you go to Central or South America, bring mosquito netting, wear long pants, and use bug spray. If you are pregnant, consult with your health care provider before traveling areas with Zika virus.

Have a question for the Healthy Kids panel? Ask it here. Read more from the Healthy Kids blog »