The Zika virus is not the only mosquito-borne virus pregnant women need to know about. According to new research, Rift Valley fever is poised to become an even more dangerous global health crisis—especially if you’re pregnant.
The idea that something as innocuous as a mosquito bite could cause severe birth defects, is nothing short of terrifying. When cases of Zika broke out in 2015, experts quickly declared it a global health crisis, issuing travel warnings and safe-sex recommendations to help stem its spread. But Zika isn’t the only mosquito-borne virus that pregnant women need to know about—researchers are growing increasingly concerned about the virus that causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), which is found throughout Africa and the Middle East.
In a recently published study, a team of researchers studied the effects of Rift Valley fever using infected rats and human fetal tissue—and their findings are setting off alarm bells among global health officials. The virus, according to the report, can infect the layer of cells in the placenta that’s responsible for delivering nutrients to the fetus. Translation: Unlike Zika, which indirectly affects the placenta, RVF is able to take a short cut, which can mean birth defects and death when pregnant women are infected, according to a report on the study by the New York Times.
To be clear, RVF hasn’t yet reached the level of global health crisis for pregnant women like we’ve seen with Zika—the World Health Organization has called the RVF a potential public health emergency, according to the New York Times. But researchers are on alert now in an effort to help pregnant women across the globe stay ahead of the curve. “Zika caught everybody by surprise,” study author Amy Hartman, Ph.D., an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pittsburgh, told the New York Times. “If doctors had known about Zika’s birth effects, they could have done a lot more to protect pregnant women and babies. With Rift Valley fever, we’re trying to get ahead of the curve.”
RVF isn’t exactly new. The virus is primarily found in livestock throughout sub-Saharan Africa but it can be transmitted to humans via mosquitos where it can cause flu-like symptoms, liver issues, and in pregnant women, birth defects that can be life-threatening for the fetus. In 2000, there was also an outbreak of RVF in the Middle East, according to the World Health Organization, which raised the possibility that it could spread to other parts of the world just like Zika.
The good news? So far, there are only two cases of fetuses infected with RVF on record, the New York Times reports, but since the disease can be asymptomatic (meaning pregnant women may not even know they’ve been infected), the researchers note it’s possible many more cases could have been misdiagnosed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common symptoms of RVF include fever, weakness, back pain, dizziness, and weight loss. Most people recover after a few days but severe cases can involve brain swelling, and in extremely rare cases, death.
At this stage, there are no Zika-like travel advisories for pregnant women related to RVF. But if you’re traveling while pregnant, it pays to take extra precautions, says Adeeti Gupta, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and founder of Walk-In GYN Care in New York. “I would say, exercise caution while traveling to sub-saharan Africa, West Africa and Madagascar. Thankfully, it is not a widespread health emergency yet,” she says. The best thing you can do is protect yourself against mosquito bites—especially when you’re traveling in Africa or the Middle East.
And to be extra safe, Dr. Gupta advises flagging any travel to your doctor while you’re pregnant so that you can stay up on any risks and get any appropriate vaccinations. “You should also be aware of any infections—even mild flu like illnesses,” upon your return, Dr. Gupta says. “If you experience any such symptoms, seek medical care to get tested for conditions such as Zika to stay ahead of the game.”
Related Stories:
This Is When Zika May Show Up Near You
Scientists Say Pregnant Women Should Be Aware of These Zika-like Diseases Too
Source link
