Zika Virus Facts

  • Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in monkeys in the Zika Forest of Uganda
  • It belongs to the same family of viruses as Dengue Fever and is spread by the same mosquito
  • There have been three other outbreaks of Zika Virus since 1950, and the current major outbreak in Brazil was first recognized in 2014-2015
  • Zika virus is also thought to be transmitted through sexual intercourse, with multiple cases of male-to-female transmission being documented. There may also be a possible case of female-to-male transmission
  • Time from exposure to infection is 3 to 12 days
  • 80% of those infected with Zika Virus have no symptoms. The symptoms of Zika Virus are similar to those of influenza and it generally causes a very mild infection
  • Infection during pregnancy is believed to have the potential to cause abnormalities in the development of the unborn baby’s brain – in particular a condition called microcephaly were brain development is impaired and babies have abnormally small brains. Microcephaly is associated with intellectual disability, deafness and blindness, and seizures. It is unknown whether microcephaly caused by Zika Virus also results in these complications
  • Not every pregnant woman who contracts Zika Virus will develop a baby with microcephaly but it is not known at present how big the risk is
  • Testing is complicated and involves blood tests as well as potentially tests on other bodily fluids
  • There is no treatment and currently no vaccine – prevention through avoidance is essential
  • There is currently no Zika Virus within Australia. The mosquitos that are able to carry the virus are present in Northern Queensland regions but they are not infected with Zika Virus.
  • Current advice in Australia focuses on the management of risks associated with travel

Countries that are affected by Zika Virus

 

Widespread transmission

HIGH RISK

Sporadic/Limited transmission

MODERATE RISK

Historical Transmission

LOW RISK

American Samoa

Anguilla

Bangladesh

Argentina

Antigua and Barbuda

Cambodia

Aruba – Netherlands Territory

Bahamas

Cook Islands

Bolivia

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Easter Island, Chile

Brazil

British Virgin Islands

French Polynesia

Cape Verde

Cayman Islands

Gabon

Colombia

Cuba

Laos

Costa Rica

Fiji

Maldives

Curacao

Guinea Bissau

Marshall Islands

Dominica

Indonesia

New Caledonia

Dominican Republic

Jamaica

Papua New Guinea

Ecuador

Malaysia

Samoa

El Salvador

Saint Vincent & The Grenadines

Solomon Islands

French Guiana

Sint Maarten – Netherlands Territory

Tonga

Grenada

St Kitts and Nevis

Vanuatu

Guadeloupe

St Lucia

Yap, Micronesia

Guatemala

Turks and Caicos

 

Guyana

Vietnam

 

Haiti

 

 

Honduras

 

 

Martinique

 

 

Mexico

 

 

Nicaragua

 

 

Panama

 

 

Paraguay

 

 

Peru

 

 

Phillipines

 

 

Puerto Rico

 

 

Saint Barthelemy

 

 

Saint Martin

 

 

Singapore

 

 

Suriname

 

 

Thailand

 

 

Trinidad and Tobago

 

 

Florida – USA

 

 

US Virgin Islands

 

 

Venezuela

 

 

 

Advice for people considering travel to Zika affect countries

 

 

HIGH RISK

MODERATE RISK

LOW RISK

Pre-travel advice for women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy

Defer non-essential travel or defer pregnancy

Consider deferring travel or defer pregnancy, based on individual risk assessment with doctor

Advice based on individual risk assessment. Deferring travel or pregnancy is usually not necessary

All travellers

Individual risk assessment

Mosquito avoidance

Safer sex advice

Post exposure advice

Avoid pregnancy for at least 8 weeks following return

Pregnant women should avoid unprotected sex with a partner (male or female) who has been in a high or moderate risk country for the duration of the pregnancy

If male partner has a confirmed Zika infection, avoid pregnancy and unprotected sex for at least 6 months from the time of diagnosis

Males and females should avoid unprotected sex for at least 8 weeks following return

Travellers returning to are of Queensland with suitable mosquitoes to transmit Zika should avoid mosquito bites for 4 weeks after return

 

Advice based on individual risk assessment

Elements from high and moderate risk categories may apply

The most current advice is available from www.health.gov.au

Please speak with your doctor if you are concerned and for advice specific to your circumstances