Zika virus is an infectionspread by an infectedAedesspecies mosquito, specificallyAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictus.
Zika infections are the riskiest for pregnant people and their fetuses.
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Pregnant people can pass the virus on to the fetus.
Zika can also be transmitted during sexual contact.
If this happens, the fetus can develop microcephaly.
This is a rare neurological condition that impacts brain growth and development, leading to brain damage or deficiencies.
Othercongenital conditionsthose identified at or soon after birthare also possible, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
The symptoms of Zika virus are typically mild or don’t occur at all.
Why Isn’t There a Zika Vaccine?
Several vaccines are undergoing testing and are in various stages of development and clinical trials.
How Do You Protect Your Skin From Zika Mosquitos?
Can You Get Zika Twice?
Research suggests that having a Zika infection once may protect you from being infected again.
Whether this protection lasts a lifetime or offers protection against variants of the Zika virus isn’t as clear.
Treatment for Zika
There’s no specific medication or treatment to cure a Zika infection.
These conditions can permanently and irreversibly alter your health and overall quality of life.
Zika can cause congenital conditions, including brain damage, in developing fetuses.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Zika symptoms and complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Recommendations for travelers and people living abroad.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Zika travel information.
Freitas DA, et al.Congenital Zika syndrome: A systematic review.PLOS One.
December 2020;15(12):e0242367.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Potential range ofAedesmosquitoes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevention and transmission.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zika virus.
National Institutes of Health.Zika virus vaccines.
National Institutes of Health.Zika virus diagnosis.
