Do not travel to areas with Zika virus, MoH warns pregnant women
PREGNANT women in the island have been warned against travelling to areas affected by the Zika virus.
The World Health Organisation strongly suspects there is a link between the virus and a cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil, classifying the outbreak as a 'public health emergency of international concern'.
Microcephaly is a condition where babies are born with a greatly reduced head circumference.
In general, life expectancy for individuals suffering from microcephaly is reduced and the likelihood of normal brain function is poor.
If travelling to an affected area, Dr Bridgman says measures should be taken to reduce the risk of being bitten, including:
n Use insect repellent that contains
N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) on exposed skin, applied to skin after sunscreen is applied
n Wear loose clothing that covers the arms and legs
n Sleep under a mosquito net
n Use air conditioning and/or a window screen to keep mosquitoes outside
n Reduce the number of mosquitoes by emptying standing water from containers such as flowerpots or buckets.
