7/25/2019 Zika Q & A

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Q&A with Dr. David Berry of Austin Perinatal Associates.

Q: If a woman is infected with the Zika virus, how long after recovery would it be safe to conceive

without fear of any birth defects?

A: Zika only stays in circulation for 1 - 2 weeks. The infection must occur while you are already pregnant.

If you have had the disease and fully recovered (usually 4 - 7 days), you may proceed and get pregnant.

Your immune system will prevent a repeat infection any time later in life. Remember: 1) We are not

certain, just suspicious, that Zika is related to microcephaly, and 2) Only 4,000 cases of microcephaly

have been reported in Brazil, the most affected country out of 3,000,000 births = 1:750 births

Q: What month of pregnancy is most dangerous if you get this? Or is baby at risk for problems during

the whole 9 months or just the beginning?

A: We are not certain of the time frame for infection and birth defects, so our best guess based upon

fetal developmental stages is that the first and second trimester are the most vulnerable, likely 8 - 28

weeks are the most susceptible. times

Q: Do we know how it affects a newborn and an elementary school child? Can it cause any neurological

issues at this point?A: There are not any reported neurological injuries to newborns or children, so, if there is a true cause

and effect of Zika and microcephaly, it is likely that it is only during fetal brain development. No adult or

childhood brain injuries from Zika in more than 50 years of experience, so far.

Q: Dr. Berry, what was your reaction when you heard about Travis County's first case yesterday?

A: It was expected that foreign travelers would bring it to the US and to Texas. The good news is that

there are no mosquito bite cases as yet. We should expect those as well. Remember that, even in Brazil

right now, the microcephaly rate among pregnant women this year are much less than 1%. Even if we

have the same infection and fetal complication rate as Brazil, we may only see 50 - 100 affected babies in

the 20,000 delivered in Travis county this year. Austin has become an international destination and have

many travelers and family members in Mexico, Central and South America. It was inevitable that thiswould happen. I expected the first case in the next few weeks. I don't expect an infected pregnant

women for several months

Q: My daughter is pregnant and is due Feb. 24. If she should get the Zika Virus how dangerous would it

be to baby at this stage? Also they have mosquitos really bad where she lives in Round Rock. Her

neighbor traveled to Brazil about 6 months ago for his job and had to come home early cause of illness.

Don't know what issues he had hope it was not the Zika Virus. Can Drs tell if baby has virus from

sonograms/ 4D. She has kidney issues and has been seeing a maternal specialist along with GYN to

watch baby's growth? Thank you

A: If she is due in 3 weeks, she is not going to be at risk for the baby getting a neurological injury or

microcephaly. Her Ob can either refer to an MFM specialist or perform an ultrasound, but she is likely not

to be at any risk

Q: My wife is four months pregnant. She's always been mosquito bait (I never need repellent when I'm

with her because they all attack her). On top of constant repellent on her, should we be doing a

mosquito treatment service at our property? Limiting outside time? What precautions should we be

taking as the weather heats up and mosquitos become more abundant?

7/25/2019 Zika Q & A

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A: March and April are the beginning of mosquito season in Austin. Many lawn services offer yard

treatment services that will reduce (but not eliminate) mosquitoes. Never a bad idea. Keep the deep

woods Off on, especially in the dusk/dawn time frames.

Q: I have heard some pregnant women voice concerns about DEET exposure in pregnancy. Can you

address the safety of DEET in pregnancy?

A: All of the topical skin lotions and sprays are fine to use in pregnancy. Both the World Health

Organization and the Centers for Disease Control recommend DEET. It is more effective than many of the

lemon oil derivatives.

Q: My daughter and her husband, who is in the Army, are posted to Fort Stewart, GA. The mosquitoes

are very bad there. I want to ask if every woman who contracts the zika virus in the first two trimesters

will deliver a baby with brain injuries? Are there cases where the mother had the virus but the baby was

fine?

A: We do not know the exact transmission rate or most vulnerable time, but very, very few women who

will be infected during pregnancy will actually have a baby affected neurologically