Officials remind pregnant women to avoid Zika-affected areas

PHOENIX — Maricopa County health officials want to reaffirm that traveling to Zika-affected areas can be dangerous for pregnant women or women looking to become pregnant.

The warning came following an increase in Zika cases in the Mexican state of Sonora over the past two weeks.

There have been 77 confirmed cases of Zika reported in Sonora in 2018, almost the same number (84) that were reported between 2015 and 2017.

All cases of Zika in Arizona have been related to individuals who have traveled to a Zika-affected area, according to the Maricopa County Public Health Department.

Zika could cause severe birth defects to an unborn child, including microcephaly, a condition that affects a baby’s brain development, according to Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control at Maricopa County Public Health.

“It’s important because Sonora is the (Mexican) state that borders Arizona and we know individuals travel there,” Sunenshine told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

“We want to remind pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant not to travel to Zika-infected areas if all possible.”

Only one case of Zika has been documented in Maricopa County this year.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that pregnant women who do travel to Zika-affected areas should avoid unprotected sexual contact for the duration of pregnancy or use condoms to prevent Zika transmission.

Zika symptoms start three to 14 days after a bite by an infected mosquito and can last for several days to a week, according to Sunenshine.

Symptoms include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes or muscle pain. It typically causes a mild illness with symptoms lasting a few days to a week.

“A lot of people think Zika is no longer being spread,” Sunenshine said. “This recent increase in Zika in Sonora is a reminder that women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should avoid traveling to affected areas.”

Sunenshine recommends that anyone who travels to affected areas should protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Prevention goes beyond just wearing insect repellent.

“Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible and stay in places with screens on doors and windows,” Sunenshine said.

“Additionally, we’re asking folks who travel to Zika-affected areas to wear mosquito repellent and avoid mosquito bites for three weeks when they get back to avoid spreading the disease in Arizona.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.

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