By Sue Danielson, health services

If you plan to travel, you need to know about Zika Virus. Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting 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. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have listed travel alerts to regions that include areas of South America; all of Central America; the Caribbean; Mexico; Puerto Rico; Samoa; and Cape Verde. Click for more up-to-date information on affected areas affected.

Pregnant women may be at greater risk from the Zika virus. Infection with Zika during pregnancy may be linked to birth defects in babies. Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or at risk of becoming pregnant are advised to postpone travel to these areas. There is evidence that the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted by a man to his sex partners.

To prevent the spread of this disease, protect yourself from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine for Zika virus.  Some tips:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
• If you have a baby or child:

1. Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age.
2. Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs, or
3. Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
4. Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin.

• Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated items.
• Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See product information to learn how long the protection will last.
• If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin. They are intended to treat clothing.

If you are infected with Zika and are symptomatic, 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.
• If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.

With the recent outbreaks, the number of Zika virus disease cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States will likely increase. These imported cases may result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the United States. For more information, contact Sue Danielson at ext. 3806 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu.

Information obtained from www.cdc.gov/zika