As More Pregnant Women in US Found With Mosquito-Borne Zika Virus, CDC Issues New Guidelines

Officials confirm new cases of Zika virus.  James Gathany/AP Photo

CLICK HERE - CDC - Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak — United States, 2016

abcnews.go.com - by Gillian Mohney - January 20, 2016

The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen that has been linked to a rise of birth defects in Brazil, has been found in at least five people this month in the U.S., prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to release new guidelines for pregnant women.

The new interim guidelines issued by the CDC on Tuesday advise doctors to ask all pregnant women if they have recently traveled to a country where the a Zika virus outbreak is ongoing. The CDC has also advised any pregnant women who have traveled to countries with the Zika virus to get tested for the virus if they are have two or more symptoms of the virus.

The illness often results in fever, joint pain and rash, health officials said. There is no cure or vaccine for the virus besides supportive care.

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