"Not all babies born to Zika-infected women get microcephaly. "If the tests show they caught the Zika virus, no matter how advanced their pregnancy is, they must undergo an ultrasound check immediately too," he said, "Monthly checks are also necessary. If the head size of the foetus inside their womb is smaller than standard, they must be referred to medical specialists".Pregnant women without any Zika-related symptoms should undergo ultrasound checks twice - 18-20 weeks into their pregnancy and 28-30 weeks. "If microcephaly is detected, parents and doctors will have close consultations about how to proceed in the best interests of both the mother and baby," he said.Tawee said that if microcephaly were detected when a pregnancy had already progressed more than 24 weeks, any decision made would be on a case-by-case basis.Mosquitoes are Zika vectors. Zika can also be spread via sexual activities.Tawee said Thailand was the first Asian country to develop Zika guidelines for future mothers.

Source: The Nation Bangkok October 05, 2016 17:15 UTC