By Julie Steenhuysen
CHICAGO, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. health officials are
reminding healthcare workers to use standard protective gear
when delivering babies to prevent possible infection with Zika
or transmission of the virus to newborns.
The Zika virus that is quickly spreading in the Caribbean
and the Americas is primarily transmitted by mosquito bites, but
the virus has also been detected in body fluids, including
blood, urine, amniotic fluid and saliva, and several cases of
sexual transmission have occurred.
Because most people infected with the virus do not have
symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that standard infection precautions be observed at
all times, regardless of whether Zika is confirmed or suspected.
Such procedures include frequent hand washing, the use of
personal protective equipment such as masks and double gloves,
safe injection practices and safe handling of potentially
contaminated equipment or surfaces.
These measures are already recommended to prevent
transmission of other blood-borne viruses, such as the human
immunodeficiency virus or HIV and hepatitis C virus.
In the report, CDC experts say studies have shown that
healthcare personnel working in labor and delivery tend to cut
corners on wearing protective gear in routine cases, citing
concerns that the gear reduces dexterity and that protective
goggles fog up.
But given the "theoretical risk" of infection, CDC experts
said protective measures need to be taken to protect healthcare
workers and infants from exposure to the virus during labor and
delivery procedures.
Zika infection has been associated with microcephaly, a
congenital birth defect marked by small head size and
underdeveloped brains, and the precautions are meant to prevent
transmission of the virus to pregnant women or to healthcare
workers whose partners may be pregnant.
Zika infection has also been linked with Guillain-Barré
Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes temporary
paralysis.
Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus
actually causes microcephaly in babies. Brazil said it has
confirmed more than 860 cases of microcephaly, and considers
most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.
Brazil is investigating more than 4,200 additional suspected
cases of microcephaly.
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TAKE-A-LOOK on Zika outbreak
GRAPHIC: Spread of Zika virus http://reut.rs/1JwW4AT
FACTBOX-Why the Zika virus is causing alarm in the Americas
TIMELINE-Zika's origin and global spread
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