Background Information
For complete background information on Zika virus, visit the CDC webpage, Zika Virus: Questions and Answers.
Quick facts about Zika virus:
- Zika is a virus spread to humans by Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquitos that spread dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
- The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
- About 1 in 5 people who are infected with Zika virus show symptoms. Symptoms can include mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, or headache. Symptoms last for 2-7 days.
- There is no treatment or vaccine currently available.
- The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.
Information for Health Care Providers
All Health Care Providers |
Obstetrical Health Care Providers |
Pediatric Health Care Providers |
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(CDC) Resources and Publications |
(CDC) Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure - United States 2016
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(CDC) Interim Guidelines for the Evaluation and Testing of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection - United States 2016
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(CDC) Zika Virus:
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(CDC) Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak - United States 2016
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(CDC) Questions and Answers for Pediatric Healthcare Providers: Infants and Zika Virus Infection
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(CDC) Webinar: What Clinicians Need to Know |
(CDC) Questions and Answers for Healthcare Providers Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure
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(PAHO) Preliminary Guidelines for the surveillance of microcephaly in newborns in settings with risk of Zika virus circulation.
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(PAHO) Zika Resources: For Health Authorities |
(ACOG) Practice Advisory: Interim Guidance for Care of Obstetric Patients During a Zika Virus Outbreak
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(PAHO) Surveillance in the Americas: Interim guidances for laboratory detection and diagnosis |
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(CDC) Recognizing, Managing, and Reporting Zika Virus Infections in Travelers Returning from Central America, South American, the Caribbean, and Mexico |
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(UpToDate) Zika Virus Infection |
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Additional Information at Northwestern Medicine
- Listen to a WGN Radio interview with Dr. Robert Murphy, Director of the Center for Global Health at Northwestern Medicine.
- View the Center for Global Health presentation about Zika Virus from Monday, February 29, 2016. The presentation begins at the 7-minute mark.
- Follow IPHAM’s ongoing coverage of Zika Virus.
Updated: September 28, 2023