New travel advice issued amid Zika virus concerns

Public Health England has issued new travel advice for pregnant women due to growing concerns about the impact of the Zika virus.

There has been an outbreak of the virus in South and Central America and the Caribbean, leading the National Travel Health Network and Centre to advise pregnant women to consider delaying travel to these regions.

In October 2015, the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported an unusual increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly – a condition characterised by a smaller-than-expected head, which can be due to abnormal brain development. 

A possible link between this increase and the ongoing Zika virus outbreak has been mooted, leading the British government to take note, even though the mosquito that transmits the virus is not found in the UK.

Symptoms of Zika virus infection may include fever, itching, rashes, conjunctivitis and headaches, as well as pain in the muscles, eyes or joints.

Dr Hilary Kirkbride, travel and migrant health expert at Public Health England, said: "If you have recently returned from an area where active Zika transmission is currently reported and have a fever or flu-like illness, seek medical attention without delay to exclude malaria and mention your travel history."