The Zika virus came to public prominence in late 2015 and due to its propensity to lead to birth defects and disability, many people are understandably concerned about contracting the disease. However, although people have seen the shocking pictures of the babies whose mothers had the Zika virus, there is still a considerable amount of confusion over the risks.
Dr Laurence Gerlis of SameDayDoctor reveals all you need to know…
The Zika virus came to public prominence in late 2015 and due to its propensity to lead to birth defects and disability, many people are understandably concerned about contracting the disease. However, although people have seen the shocking pictures of the babies whose mothers had the Zika virus, there is still a considerable amount of confusion over the risks.
Dr. Laurence Gerlis, the founder of the UK’s largest independent GP practice, SameDayDoctor, has noticed a significant increase in the number of patients visiting his private walk in clinics with concerns about the virus, with some of his pregnant patients cancelling their trips to Rio and the affected areas. With the Rio Olympics on the horizon, travel to the area is set to increase, and alongside this, the public is likely to have more questions about what the risks are and how they can travel safely. With this in mind, Dr. Gerlis has provided a no-nonsense guide to the Zika virus, answering the key questions we are likely to have.
“Zika is a relatively new virus which does not occur naturally in the UK. It is spread in the same way as malaria, via mosquitos. It is contracted by being bitten by a mosquito which carries the virus it has picked up from another human.”
“The main risk of Zika is to women in early pregnancy as the virus is known to cause microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than usual, as their brain has not yet developed fully. This causes severe brain defects and disability. The virus seems to have a very high incidence of causing deformity if caught in early pregnancy. It is usually a mild virus infection in other demographics, but occasional serious complications have been reported, including paralysis.”
“Yes, this is a very low risk situation. The virus clears the body in 14 days and therefore, you should wait 28 days after returning home before trying to conceive.”
“The main symptoms of Zika are headaches, rash, itching all over, fever, back pain, joint pain, red eyes and eye pain. The illness is usually mild,with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and the symptoms can be confused with a relatively normal infection. Therefore, many people might not realise they have been infected.”
“If you go to an area with poor sanitation in one of the known risk countries, and you are bitten by mosquitos, you run some risk of contracting the virus, although this is not guaranteed and there are precautions you can take. The key areas of risk are South America, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and Mexico.”
“The Zika virus is not contagious person to person usually, although there have been some reports of sexual transmission. Men who are planning pregnancy with their partners need to take special care as Zika can stay in semen longer than in blood. Therefore, if a man has had Zika, a couple should consider not trying for a baby and having sex without a condom for 6 months.”
“It is important to seek travel advice before your trip. Pack some long sleeved tops and trousers and also obtain some DEET to apply to the skin to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitos. In addition, once in the high-risk countries, ensure there are mosquito nets for sleeping.”
“Sadly, at the moment there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika virus.”
“Experts believe that the larger than usual number of visitors to the area will increase the spread. This is primarily due to the Olympics taking place in an affected area and the sheer volume of people who will be in Rio during the summer. If you are concerned about your trip, seek advice before you leave and if you are unwell either during your trip or on returning home, please consult your doctor.”
• SameDayDoctor is the largest independent GP practice in the UK with eight clinics. Founded by Dr Laurence Gerlis in 2003, its popularity with patients’ stems from its convenience – SameDayDoctor is open seven days a week and patients can see a doctor within 20 minutes and receive test results that very same day.
