Should you still be concerned about Zika?

Is Zika still a concern?

Ask Dr. Manny: My husband and I are thinking about honeymooning in the Caribbean, but we want to have kids soon after. Should I still be worried about Zika?

Since the end of the Olympics in Brazil and the onslaught of headlines regarding the 2016 U.S. presidential election, news surrounding the Zika virus has understandably received less coverage. However, many people who are family planning are still concerned.

We got this letter from a viewer:

Dr. Manny,

I am getting married this year and would like to start a family soon after. My husband and I were thinking about honeymooning in the Caribbean,but I am worried about Zika. Should I be?

Heather

There is good news and bad news when it comes to the status of Zika. For one, the virus has not been eradicated, and a new study by the University of Georgia and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies has found the virus can be transmitted by more mosquitoes than previously believed.

However, there has been a great deal of progress made against the virus in the past year. Government officials in Miami, for example, worked quickly and efficiently to stop the disease from spreading and now Zika is no longer being transmitted in the area.

Additionally, officials say Zika has been more or less localized. Countries like Bermuda, Uruguay and Chile have remained Zika free in recent months.

Meanwhile, scientists are hard at work to finding a way to treat and prevent the spread of the virus. According to former Food and Drug Administration chief and health expert Dr. Jesse Goodman, nearly a dozen vaccines are in trial phases. However, an effective vaccine is still years away.

If you’re planning a family, you can never be too careful when it comes your and your family’s health and safety. Look into honeymooning in areas that have a cooler climate, where mosquitoes are less prevalent.