CDC: Zika infections confirmed in 9 pregnant women in US

Up to nine pregnant women in the United States have been infected with Zika while traveling overseas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed today.

Ultrasound scans often don’t reveal the telltale signs of microcephaly or other birth defects until after the 24 week of pregnancy, when a woman is in her third trimester.

Two of the pregnant women had symptoms of Zika infections during their second trimester of pregnancy, and one of these women gave birth to an apparently healthy infant, while the other pregnancy is continuing.

“The Zika virus has recently been linked with some pretty serious birth defects”, she said.

Mexico is one of 35 countries reporting cases of Zika, though none have been in Baja California.

The Zika virus is actually a very mild disease with only 1-in-5 infected people showing symptoms, which are usually just a fever or rash. However, pregnant women with symptoms should get tested.

Later Friday, the CDC recommended that pregnant women consider not going to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Traveling to Zika-impacted regions does not appear to be the only way to become exposed to the Zika virus. For those who can’t postpone their travel to areas affected by Zika, avoiding mosquitoes and using insect repellent are recommended.

It’s strongly suspected as the cause of abnormally small heads and brains in some newborn babies.

Both developed symptoms and tested positive for Zika, whose transmission through sex has been considered rare.

“If you or your partner are pregnant, use a condom for the duration of the pregnancy if you or your partner have traveled”, Shahab explained.

Public health officials are also investigating whether the Zika virus can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, which triggers a paralysis that is generally temporary but that can lead to death.

On Thursday, Japan registered its first case of the Zika virus since the start of the outbreak past year.

CDC recommendations for the Zika virus are constantly changing.

The CDC also released more information about cases of sexually transmitted Zika virus.

Health officials said Friday that sexual transmission of the virus could be more common than they initially believed.

CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden said scientists at the agency’s lab identified Zika virus in placental tissues.