A mosquito-borne illness- Zika virus- is spreading rapidly in South and Central America and the Caribbean and has appeared in
the U.S. and Europe in individuals who have traveled to an affected
country. The Zika virus is spread in the Americas by the Aedes aegypti
mosquito which also carries dengue fever and yellow fever.
While
the Zika virus causes mild symptoms that include fever, rash, joint
pain, and red eyes the real concern is for women who are pregnant or who
may soon become pregnant. There is speculation that the virus is linked
to development of microcephaly in unborn children--a disorder where an
unborn baby has an abnormally small head and incomplete brain
development--but the Zika virus has not been proven to cause the
disorder.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel advisories for affected countries.
Women
of child-bearing age living in or traveling to affected areas are
advised to protect themselves from mosquitoes bites; the mosquitoes that
spread the Zika virus are aggressive daytime biters and live both
indoors and outdoors. The World Health Organization (WHO) is predicting
that as many as 4 million people could be affected.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan
has called an emergency meeting for February 1 stating that the virus
which has been reported in 23 countries and territories and has gone
from a mild threat to one of "alarming proportions" since it is linked,
but not yet established, to birth malformations. Chan said, "We are not
going to wait for the science to tell us there is a link (with birth
defects). We need to take actions now." There is currently no vaccine or
treatment for the virus.
Governments
of impacted countries are taking action to destroy the mosquito and its
breeding grounds while urging pregnant women and women of child-bearing
age to take extra measures to protect themselves and their unborn
children by covering arms and legs and sleeping under mosquito netting. A
few governments have gone as far as suggesting women delay pregnancy.
CDC has also developed Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak
for use by health care providers in the US. It is recommended that
pregnant women who have traveled to affected countries and test positive
for Zika be treated by a maternal-fetal medicine or infectious disease
specialist with expertise in pregnancy management.
The guidelines state in regards to microcephaly and the over 4,000 cases reported in Brazil, primarily from one region:
"However,
it is not known how many of the microcephaly cases are associated with
Zika virus infection. Studies are under way to investigate the
association of Zika virus infection and microcephaly, including the role
of other contributory factors (e.g., prior or concurrent infection with
other organisms, nutrition, and environment). The full spectrum of
outcomes that might be associated with Zika virus infections during
pregnancy is unknown and requires further investigation."
The outbreak is being used by pro-abortion organizations
that seek the legal expansion of abortion in countries throughout the
region, the majority of which prohibit or tightly restrict abortion.
The Center for Reproductive Rights' Latin America specialist stated in
regards to El Salvador, which has constitutional protection of unborn
children, "This is a huge opportunity for the anti-abortion law to be reformed."
PNCI
believes that the current health crisis should be used to help women
obtain the critical maternal health care they need and deserve for
themselves and their precious children so they both survive and thrive.
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