The Zika virus has been in the headlines a lot this year, and with good reason: by the end of September 2016, over 70 countries had reported mosquito-borne transmission of the virus, according to the WHO. Research suggests that the current epidemic will continue for three years, with many more countries likely to be affected.

Pharmacy technicians and other member of the community pharmacy team can play a valuable role in providing accurate and up-to-date information on a condition that may be creating a lot of fear for some people. This fear is often fuelled by media stories that perhaps do not give the full context of the news they are reporting. 

Information that you can pass on to customers includes: 

• Women should avoid becoming pregnant while travelling in areas with active Zika virus transmission and for eight weeks after they or their partner return because of the risk of congenital malformations. Pregnant women should delay non-essential travel to such areas until after pregnancy
• Pregnant women who have travelled to the UK from Zika-endemic areas should be offered an ultrasound scan. If they have symptoms of Zika virus disease (fever, achiness, headache, rash, sore eyes), they should have a blood test
• Anyone traveling to a Zika area should take bite avoidance measures day and night, including the use of mosquito nets and DEET-containing repellents. As the latter reduce the sun protection of suncreams, a minimum of SPF 30 or 50 should be applied first and the repellent applied second
• Minor procedures such as immunisations do not need to be delayed if an individual has returned from an active Zika transmission area, but blood donations should be delayed until 28 days after returning to the UK.