CDC May Issue Guidelines For Pregnant Women Over Virus
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) is expected to issue travel guidelines for expectant mothers en route to a place that has certain viruses.
The reason? A virus called Zika that is spread through mosquito bites.
The virus was discovered in fetal and newborn tissues of babies with microcephaly in Brazil. The CDC is investigating a possible link between the two.
Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that can cause babies to be born with abnormally small heads. This leads to severe developmental issues and sometimes death.
There is no vaccine or medicine to treat the Zika virus.
The most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
Back in December, Puerto Rico reported its first confirmed Zika virus case. While it hasn't been reported in other parts of the U.S., cases of the virus have been reported in returning travelers.
Outbreaks of Zika have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Central and South America, according to CDC.
The department says there are ways to prevent the spread by preventing bites.
When traveling to countries where Zika is present, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants and stay in places with air conditioning or that have window and door screens.
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