I started hearing about the Zika virus at travel conferences years ago, and felt glad that it was a far away disease that I would never have to worry about. Now we are all worrying about it.
Distressing pictures of affected babies have triggered worldwide concern. And the disease is spreading rapidly. First described in Uganda in 1947, it really only became a significant issue with an outbreak on the Pacific Island of Yap in 2007, followed by epidemics in other Pacific Islands, and then the Americas in 2015.
Fortunately the mosquito that transmits it doesn’t live in New Zealand, but even so there have been about 80 confirmed cases in the country since the beginning of the year. All of those occurred in people travelling from the Pacific Islands.
A recent medical article reported that the virus was most likely to cause foetal abnormalities in the first three months of pregnancy, leading to an increased risk of microcephaly, a truly devastating condition.
So how can we advise travellers, and particularly pregnant or possibly pregnant women in this situation? There is no lack of information coming out. In New Zealand you can access the Ministry of Health website or an excellent site called SafeTravel, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (safetravel.govt.nz/news/zika-virus). The American CDC site is always reliable.
GPs receive regular updates from various sources and can advise on individual risk. There is no vaccine but in general some traditional advice still applies. Remember that in these countries the people are friendly but the mosquitoes are not! Always use an effective insect repellent, usually containing Deet. Be aware that unlike malaria, where the carrier mosquitoes mostly bite between dusk and dawn, the Zika vector will have a go at you during the day – so it is best to cover the arms and legs as much as possible; although how you are meant to do that and enjoy a holiday I’m not sure. Staying in air-conditioned accommodation or using screens or mosquito nets is recommended.
The Zika crisis has highlighted the need for good travel health advice well before your trip. I still get emails written at the last minute saying “I’m going to country ‘x’ on Saturday. Can you tell me what shots I need?” Honestly, the answer is “no”. There are so many variables and so many risks, that you are doing yourself a favour to consult with your GP well in advance.
