Health Authorities Confident of Australia’s Control Measures Against Zika Virus

Despite the Zika outbreak in Southeast Asia, local infectious disease experts remain confident of Australia’s border control measures against the mosquito-borne virus.

Health authorities around the world have been on high alert due to the effects of Zika virus especially on pregnant women, but Dr Grant Hill-Cawthorne, an infectious disease expert at the University of Sydney, says he is confident that there will be no case of Zika-related microcephaly any time soon in Australia.

He says the country has only reported Zika cases from returning travellers, and if pregnant women follow the advice not to travel, this reduces the risk further. He added that it would only become a significant risk if there is local transmission of the virus, which the country hasn’t yet.

“The Queensland health authorities are particularly good at containing local outbreaks of dengue virus, so I would be surprised to see widespread local transmission – and I think this is the most likely way we would see microcephaly cases,” Dr Hill-Cawthorne told AAP.

Pregnant women should avoid travelling to countries where the risk of Zika virus is high. Babies born with this disease have underdeveloped heads that can lead to major issues throughout the child’s life.

The Australian Department of Health advises pregnant women or those planning a pregnancy to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

At the start of September, Singapore had reported 215 cases of Zika infections, while Thailand – a popular tourist destination for Australians – had confirmed 349 Zika cases since January.

Pregnant women are also advised to avoid unprotected sex with a partner who has been to a high or moderate risk country for the duration of the pregnancy.

Women should also defer pregnancy for eight weeks upon their return home.

Both men and women who have visited the said countries should avoid unprotected sex for at least eight weeks upon return. However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US recommends this be extended to six months.

Source: Essentialbaby.com.au