CDC updates guidance for evaluating infants, children with possible Zika virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today issued updated guidelines for U.S. health care providers caring for infants and children with possible Zika virus infection. According to CDC, infants with a normal head size, ultrasounds and physical exam whose mothers visited or lived in areas with Zika do not require special care beyond normal newborn care. Health care providers should suspect Zika virus disease in infants and children who traveled to or lived in an area with Zika in the past two weeks and have at least two associated symptoms, the agency said. The latter recommendation also applies to infants whose mothers were in a Zika-affected area within two weeks of delivery. CDC will review the updated guidance during a Feb. 25 call for clinicians. A marked increase in infants born with microcephaly, a birth defect resulting in smaller than normal head size, has been reported in the Zika outbreak in Brazil. It is not known how many of the cases are associated with the virus. Until more is known, CDC strongly advises pregnant women to consider postponing travel to Zika-affected areas, or talk to their health care provider and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/zika and www.aha.org/zika.