Zika virus disease is an arboviral infection and, as such, is a reportable condition in Virginia. Healthcare providers should report suspected or confirmed Zika virus infection cases to their local health department to facilitate diagnosis and mitigate the risk of local transmission.
You can also visit the VDH Clinician site for updated VDH Clinician Letters, guidance, educational materials, and MMWRs related to Zika
Eligibility for the US Zika Pregnancy Registry follows CDC guidelines:
- Pregnant women in the United States with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection (positive or equivocal test results, regardless of whether they have symptoms) and periconceptionally, prenatally, or perinatally exposed infants born to these women.
- Infants with laboratory evidence of congenital Zika virus infection (positive or equivocal test results, regardless of whether they have symptoms) and their mothers are also eligible for the registry.
Defining Laboratory Evidence for US Zika Pregnancy Registry:
Laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection for the USZPR is defined as:
- Zika virus infection detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) test.
- Zika virus IgM positive or equivocal and a positive Zika plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), or
- Zika virus IgM negative AND dengue virus IgM positive or equivocal with a positive Zika PRNT.
CDC’s updated guidance for testing and interpretation can be found here.
The registry aims to be inclusive of any pregnant woman or infant with recent flavivirus infection. Also, any infant born to a mother with lab evidence of Zika virus infection and any mother of an infant with lab evidence of Zika virus infection will be included in the registry, regardless of test results. Some persons who meet criteria for inclusion in the registry will not meet criteria to be included in official morbidity statistics.
Additional CDC guidance for interpreting Zika antibody testing results can be found here.
When to test pregnant women:
Follow latest CDC recommendations for testing
The VDH testing Algorithm can be found here.
Clinical guidance for pregnant women:
CDC recommends that pregnant women should NOT travel to areas with Zika virus infection risk. Health care providers should consult with women and their partners to take travel risks into consideration when trying to conceive. Additionally, healthcare providers should counsel women and their partners about the risks of Zika virus transmission through sex. Women should abstain from sex or use condoms for at least 8 weeks following a potential Zika virus exposure; men should abstain from sex or use condoms for at least 6 months following a potential Zika virus exposure.
Zika Care Connect:
Zika Care Connect is a new program designed to connect women, parents and caregivers of infants, and families affected by Zika to recommended healthcare services. Zika Care Connect establishes a network of specialty healthcare providers in 10 high-risk jurisdictions throughout the United States and its territories. The provider network is accessible via the Zika Care Connect website and HelpLine.
Zika Care Connect is continuing to seek healthcare specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, mental health, audiology, radiology, pediatric ophthalmology, pediatric neurology, developmental pediatrics, infectious disease, and endocrinology to voluntarily join the network.
Participating providers will receive periodic emails with key Zika updates, including new CDC clinical guidance recommendations and patient resource tools. Joining the network is voluntary; Zika Care Connect seeks to include providers who can:
- Offer clinical services recommended by the CDC
- Receive new patient referrals
- Receive regular email updates
- Maintain up-to-date profile information on the Zika Care Connect website
If you are interested in joining the Zika Care Connect provider network, please visit the website or call the HelpLine at 1-844-677-0447 (toll-free) for more information on enrolling.