The Zika Virus has been in the news for months, but it seems like there are still many questions about the implications.
Zika is a virus that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms can include fever, rash,headache, joint pain, muscle pain, and/or red eyes (conjunctivitis).
Most people have a mild illness and may not even realize they are sick. Symptoms usually last approximately 1 week, and treatment is symptomatic.
Currently there is no vaccine or curative treatment for the Zika virus. The biggest concern at this point is that when a pregnant woman contracts Zika it can be passed to her unborn child causing birth defects. Zika can also be spread through sexual contact and blood transfusions.
Currently, there are no known long term effects on a persons health from contracting Zika, however there is a short term risk for women and men planning pregnancy. Once someone has been infected with Zika, it's recommended by the CDC that women wait at least 8 weeks to become pregnant and men wait 6 months before planning pregnancy,
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