The *(ZIKA VIRUS)* and What We Need to Know

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WHAT IS ZIKA?
Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week, and many people do not have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe brain defects.


ABOUT ZIKA
What we know
* Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).
* These mosquitoes bite during the day and night.
* Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
* Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
* There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.

OVERVIEW
How Zika is transmitted
Zika can be transmitted
* Through mosquito bites
* From a pregnant woman to her fetus
* Through sex
* Through blood transfusion (very likely but not confirmed)

ZIKA SYMPTOMS
Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms.
The most common symptoms of Zika are
* Fever
* Rash
* Headache
* Joint pain
* Red eyes
* Muscle pain
* Symptoms can last for several days to a week.
* People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika.
* Once a person has been infected with Zika, they are likely to be protected from future infections.

WHY ZIKA IS RISKY for SOME PEOPLE
* Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
* It is also linked to other problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and other birth defects.
* There have also been increased reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system, in areas affected by Zika.

HOW TO PREVENT ZIKA
* There is no vaccine to prevent Zika.
* The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Treat your Clothing
CLOTHING
* Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
* Treat your clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pre-treated items.
* Using insect spray

INSECT REPELLANT
* Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellentsExternal with one of the following active ingredients:
DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
* Always follow the product label instructions.
* When used as directed, these insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
* Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months old.
* Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
* Mosquito netting

AT HOME
* Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
* Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.
* Mosquito netting can be used to cover babies younger than 2 months old in carriers, strollers, or cribs.
* Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.
* Using condoms or not having sex to prevent Zika

SEXUAL TRANSMISSION
* Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex.

HOW ZIKA IS DIAGNOSED
* Diagnosis of Zika is based on a person’s recent travel history, symptoms, and test results.
* A blood or urine test can confirm a Zika infection.
* Symptoms of Zika are similar to other illnesses spread through mosquito bites, like dengue and chikungunya.
* Your doctor or other healthcare provider may order tests to look for several types of infections.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE ZIKA
How to Treat Zika
There is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika virus. Treat the symptoms:
* Get plenty of rest.
* Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
* Take medicine such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain.
* Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
* If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.

History of Zika
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Zika outbreaks have probably occurred in many locations. Before 2007, at least 14 cases of Zika had been documented, although other cases were likely to have occurred and were not reported. Because the symptoms of Zika are similar to those of many other diseases, many cases may not have been recognized.

PREVENTION & TRANSMISSION
What We Know
* Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).
* These mosquitoes bite during the day and night.
* Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites.
* Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
* Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
* Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners.
* Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex.
* Condoms include male and female condoms.
* No vaccine is currently available.
* In 2018, no local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in the continental United States.
* The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are found throughout the United States.

2015 - 2019 CASE REPORTS IN THE U.S
* 2015--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/reporting/2015-case-counts.html
* 2016--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/reporting/2016-case-counts.html
* 2017--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/reporting/2017-case-counts.html
* 2018--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/reporting/2018-case-counts.html
* 2019--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/reporting/2019-case-counts.html

HEALTH EFFECTS & RISKS
What we know
* Zika virus disease is generally mild, and severe disease requiring hospitalization and deaths are uncommon.
* Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects and is associated with other pregnancy problems.
* Rarely, Zika may cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune
        system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.
* Very rarely, Zika may cause severe disease affecting the brain, causing swelling of the brain or spinal cord or a blood disorder which
        can result in bleeding, bruising or slow blood clotting.

MOSQUITOS & HURRICANES
What You Need to Know
* Adult mosquitoes do not generally survive high winds during a hurricane.
* Immediately following a hurricane, flooding occurs.
* Mosquito eggs laid in the soil by floodwater mosquitoes during previous floods hatch.
* This results in very large populations of floodwater mosquitoes.
* Most of these mosquitoes are considered nuisance mosquitoes.
* In general, nuisance mosquitoes do not spread viruses that make people sick.
* The types of mosquitoes that can spread viruses may increase 2 weeks to 2 months after a hurricane,
especially in areas that did not flood but received more rainfall than usual.

In areas with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and local spread of Zika, chikungunya, or dengue, increased rainfall may result in increased hatching of Ae. aegypti eggs from water-holding containers.

* People may be at more risk of getting infected with these viruses, and they should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Because people spend more time outside cleaning up after a hurricane or flood, they are more likely to be bitten by nuisance mosquitoes.

PROTECT YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY FROM MOSQUITO BITES
* Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
* Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.

See EPA’s search tool here.--> https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you

* Always follow the product label instructions.
* Reapply insect repellent as directed.
* Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
* If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
* Prevent mosquito bites--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito-bites.html

Large numbers of nuisance mosquitoes can affect recovery efforts. For this reason, local or state mosquito control experts will often take steps to control these mosquitoes.

Flooding caused by hurricanes can be severe, and an increase in mosquito populations is expected in the weeks after flooding. An increase in the number of people getting sick from diseases spread by mosquitoes is not expected after flooding.
CDC works closely with state and local health officials to monitor the flooding situation.

TAKE STEPS TO CONTROL MOSQUITOS INSIDE & OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
* After a hurricane or flood, the health department or mosquito control district will often take steps to reduce the mosquito population.
* Residents can take steps to help control mosquitoes in and around their homes to prevent mosquito bites.
* Remove standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs.
* Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers.
* Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
* Keep mosquitoes outside--> https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/controlling-mosquitoes-at-home.html