As local transmission in Florida continues and with more than more than 2,000 cases reported across the nation as of Aug. 17, healthcare providers — particularly those in at-risk regions — should prepare for treating Zika-infected patients.
Here are nine recommendations from the CDC for treating patients with Zika.
1. Healthcare providers should be aware of the clinical manifestations of the Zika virus, able to acquire information about areas with local transmission and asses risk factors to exposure while examining patients.
2. Providers should be able to accurately assess pregnant women for potential exposure to the Zika virus.
3. Patients should receive advice regarding the prevention of sexual transmission of the virus during pregnancy.
4. In care settings, patients should have access to educational materials regarding Zika transmission and mosquito prevention.
5. Providers should continue to follow all standard CDC precautions regarding patient care.
6. Providers should adhere to CDC recommendations for the prevention of Zika transmission in labor and delivery settings.
7. Hospital websites should display pathways to the CDC's Zika website.
8. Suspected cases should be reported to state or local health departments to facilitate confirmation.
9. Healthcare personnel should report all instances of pregnant women displaying laboratory evidence of Zika infection to health department officials, so they may be added to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry.
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