women should be advised not to travel to these areas and that “pregnant women whose sexual partners live in or travel to areas with Zika virus transmission should ensure safer sexual practices or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy,” according to the WHO website. In light of confirmed sexual transmission of the disease in the U.S., Summers agrees both men and women who decide to travel to affected countries should follow safer sexual practice, and offers the following travel tips. • Use sunscreen first before repellent, so mosquitoes land first on the repellent.
• Consult the CDC website for recommended repellents. (“When used as directed, [Environmental Protection Agency]-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breast-feeding women,” according to the CDC.
• Keep in mind the mosquito that carries Zika bites aggressively during the day, which may mean mosquito-net protection during naps.
• Wear long-sleeved tops and long pants. • Talk with your healthcare provider about any concerns before you travel or any symptoms you have upon your return.
Nursing’s important role Nurses have a large role to play in recognizing symptoms and educating patients that the virus will spread in the U.S. “You have to remember that you have to have a particular mosquito that transmits Zika in your area,” she said. “Most places don’t have that mosquito. It has to bite. And only the female mosquitoes bite.”
The Zika virus is spread by the female Aedes species mosquito (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). The Aedes mosquito also:
Transmits the dengue and chikungunya viruses
Usually bites during the morning and late afternoon/evening hours
Lives indoors and outdoors
More on Summers As of April 20, the virus had spread to more than 40 countries or territories in Central and South America. Summers was first drawn to tropical disease in that region in 1993, while she was working toward her BSN at Pace University in New York.
Dyan Summers, RN Dyan Summers, RN
As part of that program, she volunteered to help build a water supply system in Nicaragua. During the project, she was moved by the locals who approached the team for medica- tion. Years later, she founded Healthcare Inter- national, bringing healthcare to the indigenous people of Venezula, and recently wrapped up operations there after 15 years of service.
Nurses also should reassure patients that the U.S. has mos-
quito-control programs and has protections in place that are not available in other countries. “When you see the level of spread in the developing world, it’s not the same as in the U.S. because our public health infrastructure is excellent,” she said. “That’s the message that’s really important to get across.” According to a Feb. 16 article at
CNN.com, when it comes to re-
production, men should be more concerned than women about their risk for developing Zika after visiting a country where an outbreak has occurred. “We’ve measured the virus in the blood of people who’ve been infected, and it usually clears the bloodstream in five to seven days, or 10 days at the most,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in the article. However, it is unclear how long the virus lasts in semen, and a
man who has “recovered” from the illness may still be able to infect a sexual partner. Watching for any signs of Zika and talking with patients about
what they need to know and do will spotlight nursing’s role in the outbreak, Summers said. “Nurses are trusted,” she said. “Own your power as a nurse.” •
Lays eggs in and near standing water Source:
CDC.gov/zika/transmission Marcia Frellick is a freelance writer. Take our new Zika CE module at
Nurse.com/CE746/Zika
2016 • Visit us at
NURSE.com 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
