Zika is mostly spread by mosquito bites, primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it can also be sexually transmitted from an infected man to his sex partners. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. The sickness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.
For pregnant women, the concern is that Zika virus can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy or around the time of delivery, and infection during pregnancy has been linked to a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other problems in infants.
Dr. Darria Long Gillespie appears on CNN Newsroom to share the precautions pregnant women should take in order to avoid the risk of Zika.
Tips to avoid Zika:
- Wear long sleeves, long pants.
- Use products with DEET or picaridin.
- Exercise indoors, shower before going outdoors.
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