News for the Ramstein, Kaiserslautern, Landstuhl & Baumholder military communities in Germany 
With new outbreaks occurring in the U.S., many Airmen may wonder what is being done to prevent the spread of the Zika virus overseas while they are stationed here. The virus is spread through birth, sexual activity or being bit by an infected Aedes mosquito.
While studies are ongoing, recent observations suggest that the incidence of serious birth defects may be related to infection with the Zika virus. Pregnant women or women of childbearing age who plan to become pregnant and their sexual partners are the focus population for the efforts to prevent or mitigate the disease.
In response to reports in Brazil of microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected, and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with the Zika virus while pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel alert for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. The notice is an Alert Level 2 that calls for travelers to follow enhanced precautions or recommended preventive measures for these destinations.
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