Travel

Zika

• The mosquito-borne Zika virus isn’t harmful in most cases, but may be harmful in pregnancy has been linked to birth defects, specifically microcephaly.
• Zika virus doesn’t naturally occur in the UK.
• Zika outbreaks have been reported in the Pacific region, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and parts of south and southeast Asia.
• Public Health England (PHE) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have reviewed and updated their Zika travel and sexual transmission advice and have made changes to the risk ratings in some countries.
• Use the Country Information pages (CIPs) on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website for up-to-date and detailed advice for those travelling to countries or areas affected by Zika virus.
• Women who are pregnant, and those trying to conceive, who have recently returned to the UK from countries with risk of Zika transmission should inform their GP, midwife or obstetrician that they may have been exposed to the Zika virus, even if they do not have any symptoms.
• The RCOG have a guideline for Zika virus infection and pregnancy.
• The PHE algorithm provides a pathway to determine what sexual transmission advice is needed for male and female travellers.

Malaria

• Pregnant women are more likely to develop malaria than non pregnant adults and infection in pregnancy can be very dangerous and even fatal, to both mother and baby.
• Pregnant women and women planning a pregnancy are therefore advised, wherever possible, to avoid travelling to areas where there is a high risk of catching malaria.
• Refer to the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) fact file for information on how to reduce the risk of malaria including information of the use of insect repellents and antimalarials.