Barely disembarked in Peru, all passengers coming from countries infected with the Zika virus received a health pack including condoms and information leaflets on this infectious disease.
“It is important to inform the population that this disease is not only transmitted by mosquito bites, but also sexually, hence the need to use condoms, especially if the woman is pregnant, because the risk is more important,” Percy Minaya, deputy health minister, told AFP.
A dangerous virus for pregnant women
the Zika virus resembles dengue fever and yellow fever. Transmitted by a mosquito of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus type (the tiger mosquito), it causes moderate fever, high tired, muscle and joint pain, headache, but also skin rashes and conjunctivitis. But this virus can cause serious health problems during the pregnancy. the Zika viruscan cause cases of microcephaly (abnormally small skull) in the fetus. No vaccine exists to date, the only way to protect yourself is to avoid mosquito bites and for pregnant women to use condoms, because there is a risk of sexual contamination.
Recommendations from US health authorities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) therefore recall that women who have been infected with the Zika virus should wait 8 weeks after the onset of symptoms before trying to get pregnant.
If it is their male partner who has been affected by the Zika virus, then you have to wait 6 months.
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What you need to know about the Zika virus