News
ICViewExpert PerspectivesMedical World NewsPathogen PlaybookVideosWebinars
Conference CoverageConference ListingAPIC Chapters
Infection Control TodaySupplements And Featured Publications
CME/CEEditorial Advisory BoardJob BoardPartnersSponsoredWhitepapers
Subscribe
Educator of the Year Official Rules2024 Educator of the Year Winner2023 Educator of the Year WinnerEducator of the Year
Advanced TechnologyAdvanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental ServicesEnvironmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
IC Trends
Long-Term CareLong-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Policy
PreventionPreventionPreventionPrevention
Sterile ProcessingSterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
Spotlight -
  • IC Trends
  • Bug of the Month
  • Featured Articles
  • Featured Columns
  • Pathogen Playbook
Advanced TechnologyAdvanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental ServicesEnvironmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
IC Trends
Long-Term CareLong-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Policy
PreventionPreventionPreventionPrevention
Sterile ProcessingSterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
    • News
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

CDC Issues Interim Travel Guidance Related to Zika Virus for 14 Countries

January 18, 2016
Article

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

This alert follows reports in Brazil of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. However, additional studies are needed to further characterize this relationship. More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, the CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant:
• Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.
• Women trying to become pregnant who are thinking about becoming pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip. 

Because specific areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing are difficult to determine and likely to change over time, CDC will update this travel notice as information becomes available. Check the CDC travel website frequently for the most up-to-date recommendations.
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Four in five people who acquire Zika infection may have no symptoms. Illness from Zika is usually mild and does not require hospitalization. Travelers are strongly urged to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites:
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535. Always use as directed.
o Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, and IR3535 are safe for pregnant and nursing women and children older than 2 months when used according to the product label. Oil of lemon eucalyptus products should not be used on children under 3 years of age.
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).
• Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.

In addition to the steps announced today, CDC is working with public health experts across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps related to Zika. CDC is developing interim guidance for pregnant women as well as sharing additional information about Zika with public health officials, clinicians and the public.  In addition, efforts are underway across HHS to develop vaccines, improved diagnostics and other countermeasures for Zika. 

CDC scientists tested samples provided by Brazilian health authorities from two pregnancies that ended in miscarriage and from two infants with diagnosed microcephaly who died shortly after birth. For the two full-term infants, tests showed that Zika virus was present in the brain. Genetic sequence analysis showed that the virus in the four cases was the same as the Zika virus strain currently circulating in Brazil.  All four mothers reported having experienced a fever and rash illness consistent with Zika virus disease (Zika) during their pregnancies.

Locally acquired Zika was reported for the first time in Brazil in May 2015, and the virus has since been reported in 14 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean:  Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

According to Brazilian health authorities, more than 3,500 microcephaly cases were reported in Brazil between October 2015 and January 2016.  Some of the affected infants have had a severe type of microcephaly and some have died.  The full spectrum of outcomes that might be associated with infection during pregnancy and the factors that might increase risk to the fetus are not yet fully understood. Health authorities in Brazil, with assistance from the Pan American Health Organization, CDC, and other agencies, have been investigating the possible association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in infants. However, additional studies are needed to further characterize this relationship. More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

In the past, outbreaks of Zika virus infection have occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.  Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.  About one in five people infected with Zika virus will develop symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). Other commonly reported symptoms include myalgia, headache, and pain behind the eyes. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and case fatality is low. Guillain-Barré syndrome has been reported in patients with probable Zika virus infection in French Polynesia and Brazil. . Research efforts will also examine the link between Zika and GBS.

Source: CDC

Newsletter

Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.

Subscribe Now!
Recent Videos
Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.  (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)
From Awareness to Action: Educating Staff on Sharps Safety Standards
Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR (Photo courtesy of Amanda Heitman)
Championing Surgical Safety: A Perioperative Nurse’s Perspective on Infection Prevention
Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.  (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)
Sharps Safety Starts With Communication, Not Just Devices
DJ Shannon, MPH, CIC, VA-BC, FAPIC
All About APIC’s New Guide That Tackles All Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections
Jordan Bastian, MPH, CIC, at APIC25
Germs in the Halls: Why Infection Preventionists Are Going Back to School
Jordan Bastian, MPH, CIC, at APIC25
Keeping Classrooms Cleaner: Infection Preventionists Step into Schools
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Tried and True Infection Prevention Measures
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Why All This Viral Activity?
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae: Bacteria-Caused Respiratory Tract Infections
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Common Cold Symptoms and Statistics
Related Content
Advertisement

Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH; Brandon M. Gantt, MHA, CRCST, CHL, CER, LSSGBH; and Jill E. Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, CHL, an infection preventionist in Atlanta, Georgia.

Better Alerts, Better Cleaning: Why IFU Updates and Borescope Protocols Must Be Built Into SPD Workflows

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 24th 2025
Article

Sterile processing departments are facing a new standard: clean is not clean unless you can see it. At HSPA 2025, experts emphasized that updated IFUs and borescope inspections must be built into routine workflows, not as extra tasks, but as core components of quality control and infection prevention.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.    (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Building a Culture of Sharps Safety Requires More Than Just Tools

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 25th 2025
Podcast

Sharps safety isn’t just an operating room issue—it’s a system-wide concern that demands stronger policies, consistent reporting, and cross-departmental collaboration to truly protect health care workers.


UNESCO sign in Juodkrante, Lithuania (Adobe Stock by BOOCYS)

US Withdrawal From UNESCO Signals a Dangerous Step Back for Global Science

Infection Control Today® Editorial Staff
July 22nd 2025
Article

In a decision heavy with consequence and light on foresight, the US has once again chosen to walk away from UNESCO, leaving behind not just a seat at the table, but a legacy of global scientific leadership that now lies in question.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.  (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Why Sharps Injuries Go Unreported and What Can Be Done

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
Published: July 24th 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025
Podcast

Despite decades of progress in health care safety, a quiet but dangerous culture still lingers: many health care workers remain afraid to report sharps injuries, fearing blame more than the wound itself.


A mother and child having online telemedicine consultation with remote doctor about cold and flu virus treatment.  (Adobe Stock 479767497 Studio Romantic)

Telemedicine's Transformative Role in PPE Distribution and Sterile Equipment Management

Stephan Hawke
July 22nd 2025
Article

In an era defined by digital transformation and post-pandemic urgency, telemedicine has evolved beyond virtual visits to become a vital infrastructure for delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) and managing sterile supplies. By enabling real-time forecasting, remote quality control, and equitable distribution, telemedicine is revolutionizing how health care systems protect both patients and providers.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste. (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 18th 2025
Article

Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.

Related Content
Advertisement

Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH; Brandon M. Gantt, MHA, CRCST, CHL, CER, LSSGBH; and Jill E. Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, CHL, an infection preventionist in Atlanta, Georgia.

Better Alerts, Better Cleaning: Why IFU Updates and Borescope Protocols Must Be Built Into SPD Workflows

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 24th 2025
Article

Sterile processing departments are facing a new standard: clean is not clean unless you can see it. At HSPA 2025, experts emphasized that updated IFUs and borescope inspections must be built into routine workflows, not as extra tasks, but as core components of quality control and infection prevention.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.    (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Building a Culture of Sharps Safety Requires More Than Just Tools

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 25th 2025
Podcast

Sharps safety isn’t just an operating room issue—it’s a system-wide concern that demands stronger policies, consistent reporting, and cross-departmental collaboration to truly protect health care workers.


UNESCO sign in Juodkrante, Lithuania (Adobe Stock by BOOCYS)

US Withdrawal From UNESCO Signals a Dangerous Step Back for Global Science

Infection Control Today® Editorial Staff
July 22nd 2025
Article

In a decision heavy with consequence and light on foresight, the US has once again chosen to walk away from UNESCO, leaving behind not just a seat at the table, but a legacy of global scientific leadership that now lies in question.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste.  (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Why Sharps Injuries Go Unreported and What Can Be Done

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
Published: July 24th 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025
Podcast

Despite decades of progress in health care safety, a quiet but dangerous culture still lingers: many health care workers remain afraid to report sharps injuries, fearing blame more than the wound itself.


A mother and child having online telemedicine consultation with remote doctor about cold and flu virus treatment.  (Adobe Stock 479767497 Studio Romantic)

Telemedicine's Transformative Role in PPE Distribution and Sterile Equipment Management

Stephan Hawke
July 22nd 2025
Article

In an era defined by digital transformation and post-pandemic urgency, telemedicine has evolved beyond virtual visits to become a vital infrastructure for delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) and managing sterile supplies. By enabling real-time forecasting, remote quality control, and equitable distribution, telemedicine is revolutionizing how health care systems protect both patients and providers.


Set of bright yellow sharps containers with biohazard labels and red lids used in clinics and hospitals for safe disposal of medical needles and waste. (Adobe Stock 1521632893 by Maksim)

Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
July 18th 2025
Article

Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
x
Advertise
About Us
Editorial Board
Contact Us
Job Board
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.
Home
About Us
News