The CDC has added Fiji to its list of countries pregnant women should avoid because of the Zika virus.
“Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters,” the CDC said, according to NBC News. “They also bite at night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites.”
The influx of Zika cases in South America has been associated with a spike in children born with microcephaly, a birth defect resulting in small heads, as well as a spike in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome. While many people who contract Zika don’t even experience symptoms, the potential side effects are severe enough that pregnant women have been advised to avoid countries with a great number of cases, ranging from Brazil to Haiti and now Fiji.
[NBC News]
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