Airmen and the Zika virus: What you need to know

  • Published
  • By Jaime Vega-Hernandez
  • 377th Medical Group Public Health Flight
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Zika virus is one of the hottest topics making the news, and it is an infectious disease that can likely affect a very mobile military population.

This disease is serious enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is acutely tracking its progress as the virus has made its way to the United States. The first confirmed case of Zika virus infection in New Mexico was reported by the New Mexico Department of Health on March 18.

A list of countries with active Zika virus transmission can be found on the CDC Zika virus travel information page at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information.

Briefly, the virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, and there are confirmed reports that Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact via the semen of an infected male. There have been no confirmed cases reported where females transmitted the infection to their male partner.

Infected pregnant women can, however, transmit the virus to the fetus, which has been linked to very serious birth defects such as microcephaly, a birth defect of the brain, as well as a potential for miscarriage and other poor birth outcomes.

Four out of five people who become infected with the Zika virus do not develop any symptoms; however, if symptoms do appear, they are usually mild and last from a few days to a week. Symptoms include fever, rash, muscle and joint aches and red eyes.

It is uncommon for a person infected with Zika to become severely ill or be hospitalized. Also, it is important to note there is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection.

In New Mexico, the risk of Zika virus transmission is minimal because the breed of mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) that transmits the virus is uncommon and very limited to the southern part of the state. Also, there has been no local mosquito-transmitted Zika in the continental United States.

However, because of the mobility of the Kirtland Air Force Base military population and the devastating effects this virus can have on unborn children, it is important to emphasize the current CDC recommendations for prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus.

· Men who have traveled to an endemic area of active Zika virus transmission and who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or use condoms for the duration of the pregnancy.

· Men who have traveled to an area of Zika virus transmission who have a non-pregnant sex partner might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms.

· Men and women who have traveled to an area with Zika and who want to start a pregnancy should speak with their health-care provider about pregnancy planning.

· Pregnant women should discuss their male partners' potential exposures to mosquitoes and history of Zika-like illness with their health-care provider.

These guidelines are of utmost importance for Kirtland AFB Airmen whom have traveled to areas where Zika virus is endemic, and for their pregnant partners.

For further information about Zika virus locally, access the New Mexico Department of Health website at nmhealth.org; for international data, access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.org. 

For assistance or questions about this article, contact Kirtland Public Health at 846-6507.