The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 25 released updated guidance for health care providers caring for pregnant women with possible exposure to Zika virus. Specifically, the guidance extends to 14 days the timeframe for testing the blood of pregnant women for Zika particles. Previous guidance had set the timeframe at one week; however, new evidence has found that Zika virus can be present in the blood for longer after symptoms begin, and that even pregnant women without symptoms can have evidence of the virus in their blood and urine.
In addition, CDC released updated interim guidance for the prevention of sexually transmitted Zika virus based on the recent finding of female-to-male transmission. Click here to learn more from the CDC.
There have been 12 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in Washington State, and all have been contracted abroad where the mosquitos carrying the virus are present. (Tim Pfarr)
