Frequently asked questions on Zika virus

How is one exposed to Zika?
The most common way of being exposed to Zika is visiting a country with active transmission of Zika in mosquitoes. An updated list may be found on the website of the Ministry of Health (list of countries).
More rarely, Zika transmission may occur through sexual intercourse.

A man who has been exposed to Zika may potentially transmit the virus for 6 months since his last exposure.
A woman who has been exposed to Zika may potentially transmit the virus for 8 weeks after her last exposure. In this period, she is also advised to avoid becoming pregnant.

I am pregnant, how can Zika virus affect me or my unborn child?
It has already been proved that Zika virus infection during pregnancy (and up to 8 weeks before pregnancy) may cause severe defects in the brain and nervous system of the unborn child. Therefore, exposure to Zika must be avoided as much as possible in the 8 weeks before pregnancy and during pregnancy. If you have been exposed nonetheless, you must inform your gynecologist of this.
Is there a treatment or vaccine to prevent transmission of Zika virus?
As of today there is no medication or vaccination to prevent contracting Zika virus.
Is it worth a pregnant woman visiting countries in which cases of Zika have been reported?

No. Women who are pregnant (at any stage of pregnancy or who are planning to become pregnant in the near future are advised to consider avoiding traveling to regions with a history of transmission of Zika virus.
Persons traveling to countries with active transmission of Zika virus are recommended to use means for reducing the risk of mosquito bite, in the day time and at nighttime alike:

Spreading an insect repellant.
Long clothing: long sleeved shirt, long trousers, socks and a hat.
Sleeping in mosquito-proofed rooms: intact nets on windows and doors or in a closed, air conditioned room, or under a mosquito net sprayed with a mosquito insecticide.

It should be emphasized that these means are not perfect and cannot ensure full protection against mosquito bites.

Is it safe to use an insect repellant if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes! An insect repellant is safe and effective to use. Pregnant women and breastfeeding women can and should use products approved by the Ministry of Health and according to the instructions of the manufacturer listed on the product label.
Is it possible to use an insect repellant marketed in Israel?
Yes. On the condition that a product that is approved by the Ministry of Health is used.
Are there blood tests for detecting Zika virus?
Yes, but their result is not unequivocal. It is advisable to test only:

A person who has been exposed to Zika, and who has experienced fever, rash, joint ache or conjunctivitis in the ensuing two weeks.
Any infant born to a mother who has been exposed to Zika.
A person who has been exposed to Zika and who has unexplained neurological complaints.

If a pregnant woman has been exposed to Zika, how must she act?
If a pregnant woman has been exposed to Zika (see above “How is one exposed to Zika?”), she must visit her caring physician and/or the physician tracking her pregnancy and inform him of this information.
Is any special observation or testing required for a pregnant woman who has been exposed to Zika?
Any pregnant woman who has been exposed to Zika is recommended to have pregnancy observation at a high risk pregnancy clinic. These clinics have expertise in tracking pregnant women who has been exposed to Zika.
Is it safe for a woman to become pregnant after having visited a country in which there is Zika virus transmission?
A woman visiting one of the countries in the list is advised to avoid becoming pregnant during her visit and for 8 weeks after leaving the region that is at risk. If her partner is exposed, it must be remembered that Zika virus may be transmitted sexually for 6 months.
If a woman who is not pregnant is stung by a Zika infected mosquito, is there any danger to future pregnancies?
A woman who is not pregnant is at risk for transmitting Zika virus to a future unborn child only for 8 weeks from the time of her first exposure. After that there is no known risk of transmitting Zika to the unknown child.