Friends as I patiently wait for my upcoming preconception doctor’s appointment…something serious has come across my radar and it is something I have no clue about…ZIKA. Zika is the health story of the year and especially for this summer…it’s a hot topic for this year’s Olympics being hosted in Zika-affected Rio! This is what I know thus far from the CDC:
“Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night.
Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
Zika is not currently being spread by mosquitoes in the continental United States. The mosquitoes that can carry Zika are found in some areas of the United States.
There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.”
Wow…this sounds major! So, ladies if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (like myself)…we should forgo unrequired travel to Zika-affected places.
Got it…No travel to Zika-affected places!
So, what does this mean for me? I am not planning any travel to Zika-affected areas, but there are 1,403 Travel-associated cases reported in the US. Well, it looks like I will need to add this to my list of questions and concerns for my preconception doctor’s appointment. My doctor can assist me with a plan for a healthy and safe pregnancy.
But in the meantime, here is some great information for planning my pregnancy directly from the CDC:
It’s time to take precautions and protect myself…I’m off to buy some bug spray!
xox~Lemon