FARGO — The Center for Disease Control is issuing a health advisory about a rise of Parvo-Virus cases, which can be dangerous for pregnant women. Parvo-Virus B-19, otherwise known as 'slapped cheek illness' because it causes redness in the face, is a highly contagious childhood illness, spread through coughing and sneezing. People can experience fever-like symptoms five to 10 days after contracting the virus, followed by a facial rash.
While most people only need supportive care, a family medicine specialist said pregnant women are at increased risk for anemia, and so is the unborn baby. "Most concerning for women who are you know 9- to 10- to 20-weeks of pregnancy, so if they contract this virus during that stage of pregnancy, the risk of harm for the baby is greater," said Dr. Stacy Roers Irmen, a family medicine doctor at Jamestown Sanford Roers-Irmen advises that pregnant women should seek medical care if they've been exposed to the virus.
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