US recommends ways to prevent Zika virus transmission to newborns

(Baonghean.vn) - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just issued guidelines recommending that women infected with the Zika virus should wait at least 2 months and men at least 6 months before intending to have children to prevent the risk of transmission to newborns.

Aedes mosquitoes are studied in the laboratory of the Department of Entomology and Ecology - CDC in San Juan. Photo: Reuters.

Dr. Denise Jamieson, a CDC expert on pregnancy and birth defects, said the guidance is based on evidence gathered about how long Zika virus can survive in blood or semen.

For areas with outbreaks, CDC recommends that couples delay pregnancy altogether, and urges physicians to counsel patients about the risk of exposure during pregnancy.

Health officials also said they plan to promote birth control in Puerto Rico, the first U.S. territory to report a case of Zika. As of March 25, 261 cases had been reported in the area, and the number is expected to rise in the coming months. The CDC is particularly concerned about the potential for Zika to spread to hundreds of pregnant women.

To address these issues, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working with local officials and private companies to provide effective contraception in Puerto Rico.

The Centers for Medicare will provide additional guidance to states and territories on Zika virus response programs, including maternity coverage.

Brazil has now confirmed more than 900 cases of microcephaly, most of which are linked to the Zika virus in mothers. In addition, Brazil is investigating nearly 4,300 additional cases of microcephaly suspected of being transmitted from their mothers to the Zika virus.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters)