Zapping Zika:: What You Need to Know

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{Disclaimer:: We partnered with the March of Dimes to bring you this post. All opinions are our own. We wouldn’t promote something we didn’t believe to be true.}

The Zika Virus. It’s a name that may have been foreign to many of us before this year. I first heard the name around the time I became pregnant with my son, expected to arrive in October. With all the worries that come along with pregnancy, this was another one to add to the list. It’s serious and scary. If a pregnant woman becomes infected with Zika she could pass it on to her baby. New cases of Zika are being reported every day here in the United States and right here in the Charleston area. It’s important to be informed about the virus and how to avoid exposure.

March of Dimes Zap Zika photoThe March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of moms and babies, and preventing birth defects and premature birth. They are committed to “Zapping Zika” and want moms-to-be and women who may become pregnant to know how to stay safe, how Zika can affect a baby during pregnancy, and what to do if you think you may have been exposed.

If you get Zika during pregnancy, you can pass it to your baby, and it may cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly that affects a baby’s brain.

Tips to avoid exposure to the Zika virus: ZikaTip1

  • Use an insect repellant spray or lotion that is EPA registered.
  • If you have recently traveled to a Zika-affected area, use bug spray or lotion for 3 weeks after you get back. This way, if you are bitten by a mosquito, it will not become infected with the Zika virus and spread it to other people.
  • Don’t have unprotected sex if your partner may be infected with Zika.zika tips 2

We invite you to learn more about how to protect yourself from the Zika virus.

To find out more about what the March of Dimes is doing in our communities, visit marchofdimes.org/southcarolina, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.