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Public Charge: What You Need to Know


MCAH Programs


Contact Information

Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health Programs

600 S. Commonwealth Ave.,
8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Tel: (213) 639-6400
Fax: (213) 639-1034
General Zika Information

Zika is a virus that can be spread through mosquitoes, from mother to baby during pregnancy, or sex with an infected partner. Zika-infected mosquitoes are not here in Los Angeles County, but travelers to Zika-affected countries should know how to protect themselves and their families.

Anyone can get Zika
Most people with Zika do not show symptoms
If you or your partner is pregnant, use protection

Anyone can get Zika

You can get Zika from a mosquito bite if you travel to an area with Zika. When you return from your travels, you can possibly give Zika to a mosquito around your home. If you are infected with Zika, a non-infected mosquito can get Zika from biting you!

Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya.

Zika can also be passed through unprotected sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partner(s). A pregnant woman can spread the Zika virus to her fetus during any trimester of pregnancy or even around the time of birth.

Infographic: What we know and what we don't know about Zika https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zika-what-we-know-infographic.pdf 

Find out more information on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

If you or your partner is pregnant,
d
o not travel to areas with Zika

Zika infection during pregnancy has been linked to birth defects. Pregnant women should not travel to areas with active Zika transmission, including Mexico and Central and South America.

Photo of pregnant womanIf you or your partner wants to get pregnant, take steps to reduce risk of Zika during pregnancy.

  • Avoid traveling to areas with Zika.
  • If you have traveled to an area with Zika, follow the 3-6-8 rule.
  • Use a condom or abstain from sex.

Women and their partners who do not want to get pregnant should consider using an effective method of birth control.

Much is still unknown about Zika Virus. There is no known treatment for Zika, no vaccine has been created, and many of the effects of the virus are unknown. Prevention for adults and children is key to reduce the possible effects of the virus.

Find out more information on protecting your pregnancy.

Most people with Zika do not show symptoms

Image of symptoms of Zika
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/symptoms.html  

Common symptoms of Zika include:

  • Mild fever – less than 38.5°C or 101.3°F
  • Headache – continuous pain in the head
  • Rash – looks like red bumps on a flat, red patch of skin
  • Conjunctivitis – red eyes with redness in the white of the eyes
  • Joint pain – often occurs in the small joints of hands and feet
  • Muscle pain – soreness or aching in muscles
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Nausea or vomiting

These symptoms usually last for several days to a week. If you think you may have Zika, it is important to talk to your doctor. Your doctor will determine whether or not you should get tested for Zika.

Find out more information on symptoms and testing for Zika.


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References

American Nurses Association. Transmission. n.d. Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/DPR/Zika-Virus-Information/Transmission

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about Microcephaly. December 7, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html.

Phonetics for “microcephaly” found at: https://www.drugs.com/mcd/microcephaly.

Time. 5 Zika Health Problems Experts Say Could Affect Anyone. March 09, 2017. Retrieved from: http://time.com/4696681/5-zika-health-problems-experts-say-could-affect-anyone/.

Zucker, J., Neu, N., Chiriboga, C. A., Hinton, V. J., Leonardo, M., Sheikh, A....Thakur, K. (2017). Zika Virus–Associated Cognitive Impairment in Adolescent, 2016. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(6), 1047-1048. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2306.162029.  

 

Revised: 02/27/2024

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