Mosquitoborne Diseases

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division

651-201-5414

On this page:
Guidelines
Statistics
Disease reporting
Newsletter articles
More

For couples who may become pregnant:

Testing for Zika virus is not recommended for pregnancy planning
Instead, women should wait at least 2 months and men should wait at least 3 months after travel to an affected area before attempting conception
When choosing a travel destination, it is important to consider that the ability to detect a new outbreak varies by country, and reporting of new outbreaks may be delayed several weeks to months. While the risk of Zika virus infection is highest in areas with a current outbreak, risk also exists in any country that has ever reported Zika virus cases (past or current), and potentially even in countries where the mosquito exists but no Zika virus cases have been reported. Stay informed about which countries are currently affected by Zika virus before you travel, and don't forget to check the maps for a few months after you come home in case an outbreak was identified afterwards by looking at CDC: Zika Travel Information page.
- CDC: Update: Interim Guidance for Preconception Counseling and Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus for Men with Possible Zika Virus Exposure – United States, August 2018
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Aug. 7, 2018 67 (Early Release).

For couples who are currently pregnant:

Avoid travel to all areas where Zika virus is a risk. Check the CDC's website for the most up-to-date information at CDC: Zika Travel Information page.
Couples should use condoms for the duration of the pregnancy if the male partner has traveled to an affected area within three months prior to conception or at any time during the pregnancy.
Call 651-201-5414 prior to submitting specimens for testing. Testing may be recommended for symptomatic patients with potential Zika virus exposure (either through travel or sexual contact) and asymptomatic pregnant women with travel to current outbreak areas.
MDH is no longer routinely recommending testing for asymptomatic pregnant women with recent possible exposure to Zika but no travel to current outbreak areas. These pregnancies should still be closely monitored for any abnormalities.
Testing may be recommended on a case-by-case basis for asymptomatic pregnant women with ongoing Zika virus exposure, travel to current outbreak areas, or prenatal ultrasound findings suggestive of congenital Zika virus infection
- CDC: Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure — United States (Including U.S. Territories), July 2017
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): July 28, 2017 66(29);781-793.

For infants with possible Zika virus exposure:

Call 651-201-5414 to discuss diagnostic options and recommendations for clinical care.
- CDC: Update: Interim Guidance for the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Management of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection — United States, October 2017
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Oct. 20, 2017 66(41);1089-1099.

CDC: West Nile Virus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC: West Nile Virus Transmission via Organ Transplantation and Blood Transfusion -- Louisiana, 2008
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Nov. 20, 2009 58(45); 1263-1267.

MDH staff also are available to provide clinical consultation regarding testing and diagnosis of all mosquitoborne diseases. Call 651-201-5414 for a clinical consultation.
Infectious Disease Reporting
- Reporting Arboviral Disease
  Arboviral diseases (including but not limited to La Crosse encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and West Nile virus) must be reported to MDH within one working day.
- Reporting Malaria (Plasmodium spp.)
  Information from MDH on reporting malaria. Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) must be reported to MDH within one working day.

Annual Summary of Disease Activity, Disease Control Newsletter
The DCN provides a yearly summary of communicable diseases reported in Minnesota.
Changing Geographic Range of Vectorborne Disease
This article describes the changing epidemiology of vectorborne diseases in Minnesota.