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Zika - Everything You Need to Know about the Virus

Posted by: Cooper Pest

With the increasing concern over the domestic spread of Zika in the US, we have been getting many questions regarding the virus and what impact it may have on our area. At Cooper Pest Solutions, you can be assured that we are staying up-to-date on all the latest research on Zika, as well as informing our residents on what they can expect on the virus’ effect for our area.

History of Zika

Contrary to what you may suspect, the Zika virus, which has taken the media by storm, has been around since 1947. The virus that was first discovered in a rhesus monkey was named after the Zika Forest in Uganda and had its first human case in 1952. Since then, there have been outbreaks in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas.

Since its rapid spread over the last year, Zika has become a focal point in the media, especially with the 2016 summer Olympics being held in Brazil. From Brazil, Zika had been linked to several countries in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. After only eight months from the discovery of Zika in Brazil, the country had over 30,000 cases of Zika causing widespread concern for neighboring countries and travelers looking to visit infected countries.

By January 2016, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued travel guidelines for travelers who were venturing to affected countries, including recommendations for pregnant women and women planning on becoming pregnant, to consider postponing travel to the Zika confirmed countries.

Although during the time following the cases in the Americas, the United States had not confirmed any cases that were domestically transmitted by mosquitoes. There were confirmed cases of Zika in the US, but they were contracted from travel to affected areas or transmitted from an individual to an uninfected individual through sexual relationships or contact with infected body fluids.

In July 2016, the first cases of domestic mosquito-transmitted Zika were confirmed in Wynwood, FL, a neighborhood near Miami. According to the Florida Department of Health, there has been a total of 14 confirmed cases of local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika in the Florida town. The Florida Department of Health is taking initiatives to test people in local neighborhoods near Wynwood to continue monitoring for any additional Zika cases.

What is Zika?

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness found in Aedes aegypti, commonly referred to as the Yellow Fever mosquito. It is primarily transmitted by mosquito bites, but it may also be transmitted through sex and blood transfusions, although blood transfusions haven’t been confirmed yet.

Pregnant women who are infected with the virus can spread it to their fetus during pregnancy and Zika has been linked to the birth deformity microcephaly, as well as other severe brain defects. It is recommended by the CDC that pregnant women, or partners looking to get pregnant, avoid travel to Zika confirmed locations.

Symptoms of Zika and Treatments

Many people infected with Zika may not have any symptoms of the virus, or they may be mild. Common symptoms are:

  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Joint pain
  • Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
  • Muscle pain
  • Headaches

Symptoms may last anywhere from several days to a week and usually aren’t severe enough for a hospital visit. If you have recently traveled to a confirmed Zika area, your doctor can conduct a blood test to check for Zika. If you are confirmed to have Zika, you are likely to be protected from future infections.

There are currently no medications or vaccines available to combat Zika, so if you become infected, you should follow the CDC’s treatment recommendations:

  • Treat the symptoms.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
  • Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.
  • If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.

How Will Domestic Transmission of Zika Impact the United States?

Up until July 2016, the confirmed cases of Zika in the US had strictly been travel-acquired, and then subsequently spread from one person to the next. However, the threat of the spread of Zika in the States has dramatically increased with the transmission of the virus in mosquitoes found in Florida.

According to Cooper Pest Solutions’ staff entomologist, Dr. Richard Cooper, the spread of the mosquito-borne illness in Florida has opened up the potential for Zika to spread throughout the United States.

“Now with transmission occurring by mosquitoes within the US, the potential for more rapid spread has increased,” Dr. Cooper said. “Currently, transmission of the virus has been limited to Aedes aegypti, which has a very limited range in the US, occurring only in the most Southern states. It will be very interesting to see what happens in the Southern states over the next few weeks and through the remainder of the summer.”

Dr. Cooper went on to add that although the Zika has only been spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, there are concerns that a closely-related species, the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is more widely distributed throughout the country and is found in the Northeast, could also serve as a vector of Zika virus.

“I would not be too concerned here in the Northeast until the Asian tiger mosquito is demonstrated to be an efficient vector of the disease and we begin seeing locally transmitted cases moving north,” said Dr. Cooper. “At this time, the risk associated with Zika virus by the Asian tiger mosquito is purely speculative,” Dr. Cooper said, “and will undoubtedly be carefully monitored by the entomologists studying mosquito-vectored disease transmission.”

What Could Potentially Happen if the Asian Tiger Mosquito Can Transmit Zika?

The Asian tiger mosquito is part of the same genus as the Aedes Aegypti, the carrier of the Zika virus, and both species are considered a “backyard” mosquito since they rarely travel more than 500 feet from their breeding sources.

As of right now, the Northeast is not in imminent danger of Zika being spread by local mosquitoes. All the confirmed cases have been spread by Aedes aegypti.

“If the Asian tiger mosquito were to begin transmitting the pathogen that causes Zika virus, the potential for more rapid transmission would exist,” said Dr. Cooper. “The fear is that the Asian tiger mosquito could feed on infected individuals and then transmit the disease, and since the mosquito is more widely distributed in the US, it could lead to mosquito-based transmission outside of the areas where Aedes aegypti occurs.”

What Can I Do to Prevent Contracting Zika?

There are some ways to protect you and your family from contracting Zika. If you live or are traveling to a Zika area, follow CDC’s guidelines for protecting yourself from mosquitoes.

  • Always use EPA-registered insect repellent, preferably DEET-based.
  • Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants.
  • Stay in places where there is air conditioning or has screenings on windows and doors.
  • Reduce mosquito breeding grounds around your home by removing standing water.

How Can Cooper Pest Solutions Help With Mosquitoes?

In addition to taking the necessary steps to prevent any mosquito, Cooper Pest Solutions offers a home service that specifically treats and prevents the Asian tiger mosquitoes in your backyard. For more information on Cooper’s Mosquito-Free program, call 1-800-949-2667 or fill out our estimate form.

At Cooper, we are taking the risk potential for Zika seriously by staying on top of the latest research and findings regarding the spread of the virus and the possibility it has to infect our area. We will continue to provide Zika updates to keep everyone informed on how to protect themselves now and into the future.

For a more local perspective, please visit the Center for Vector Biology at Rutgers website, which will provide you with resources as they pertain to our area.

Informative Zika Websites

Center for Disease Control – Zika

American Mosquito Control Association

National Pest Management Association

PestWorld – Zika

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