The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded Zika virus screening guidelines to include infants and children.
The CDC now recommends that infants and children younger than 18 old should undergo screening for Zika if they have
- traveled to or resided in an affected area within the past two weeks; or
- show signs of two or more symptoms of the Zika virus, including fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis.
The Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Its most common symptoms generally are mild, particularly in children, and last from a few days to a week. One in five people infected with the virus develop symptoms, and of those infected, few get sick enough to require hospitalization.
America’s Essential Hospitals has established a resource page dedicated to this emerging public health threat. Essential hospitals provide a significant volume of public health and emergency preparedness services and stand ready to support the nation’s response to Zika virus. Visit this page regularly for new and updated information.
