Zika: Separating Facts & Fiction

Zika. You can’t turn on the TV or radio or pick up a newspaper without hearing about it. And phrases such as “global pandemic,” “major health threat,” and “birth defects” can come across as extremely concerning.

So just how scared should you be? For most Canadians, the answer is: not very. Let us help you sort out the facts from the hype.

First of all, most people who are infected by the Zika virus (about 75% to 80% of them) don’t experience any symptoms and don’t even know they have the virus. When symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The symptoms generally begin about two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and typically last a week or less. Severe symptoms are rare.

The people who should be concerned are women who are pregnant and those who are planning to become pregnant. While it hasn’t been proven that Zika can cause any birth defects, there is a suspicious correlation between areas where Zika is common and a large number of cases of microcephaly—a condition in which a baby is born with an unusually small head and underdeveloped brain.

Another problem possibly associated with Zika—but not proven to be caused by it—is Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

So how do you protect yourself from Zika? Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to protect against the Zika virus, so you have to do whatever you can to avoid coming in contact with the virus. The first step is understanding how Zika is transmitted. The main way is through the bite of an infected mosquito. The type of mosquito that carries the Zika virus is the same type that carries dengue fever and chikungunya, two other tropical diseases. These mosquitoes are not currently found in Canada and are not well-suited to our climate. Although mainly found in parts of Central and South America and Africa, they can spread, so Health Canada is keeping a close eye on these mosquitoes and on where confirmed cases of Zika occur. Up-to-date information about the Zika virus and affected areas of the world is available on a special page on the World Health Organization website. In addition to listing the affected areas, the Pan American Health Organization website includes other helpful information about the Zika virus. People are urged to check these sites when planning international travel.

Ideally, travellers—especially pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant—should avoid areas where the virus is common. If that isn’t possible, all possible measures should be taken to prevent mosquito bites. Here are some tips that will help:

• Wear a hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pants into your shoes or boots. Do not wear sandals.
• Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
• If you need both a sunscreen and an insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first and wait about 15 minutes before applying the repellent.
• Stay indoors in an air conditioned room or in a well-screened enclosure.
• Sleep under a bed net—preferably one treated with an insecticide.

Recently, a case of Zika was confirmed to have been transmitted sexually. To prevent this from happening to you, practice the same safe sex techniques—including using a condom—that you would use to prevent other sexually-transmitted infections. This is especially important if your partner has recently been in a Zika-infected area. If you are not pregnant, your healthcare provider will be able to advise you on when these techniques will no longer be necessary. If you are pregnant, you should continue to practice safe sex throughout your pregnancy, due to the possible link with microcephaly.

There is also some concern that the Zika virus may be able to be transmitted through blood transfusions. Until this is either proved or disproved, Canadian Blood Services has taken the precaution of not accepting blood donations from people who travelled to areas where Zika is common until they have been back in Canada for at least 21 days to make sure the virus is no longer in the person’s blood system.

If you have been to an area where Zika is known to exist and you have any of the symptoms associated with the infection, speak with your healthcare provider about being tested for the Zika virus. You should also report any neurological symptoms (such as weakness or tingling in the legs).

If you have any questions about the Zika virus, your London Drugs pharmacists will be happy to answer them.