The CDC on Jan. 26 increased to 24 the number of countries that are on its traveler alert list because of ongoing transmission of the Zika virus. There currently are no confirmed cases in Iowa.

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission

Because of the potential health risk to a fetus, women who are pregnant are advised to postpone their travel to these countries. If they must go, the CDC recommends that they contact their health care providers before doing so and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites. Women who are trying to get pregnant also should consult with their health care providers, according to the CDC.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit several tropical fevers. In about 80 percent of cases, people with Zika don’t have symptoms. Those that do generally have mild symptoms.

Specimen collection instructions are available on the CDC website.

Countries and regions that are on the CDC travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) as of Jan. 22 are the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory; Barbados; Brazil; Bolivia; Cape Verde; Colombia; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; French Guiana; Guadeloupe; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Martinique; Mexico; Panama; Paraguay; Saint Martin; Samoa; Suriname; United States Virgin Islands; and Venezuela.