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Zika, Oh My!
Zika is a virus related to other Flavi-viral infections like yellow fever, dengue, and west nile (to name a few). It is primarily spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, although we now also believe it can be transmitted via sexual contact and in utero to unborn children.
Zika has spread to 38 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and it is likely there will be cases reported mainly in the southeastern US along the gulf coast where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can be found.
Over 80% who contract Zika will have NO SYMPTOMS. For the 20% who display symptoms they are typically mild and mimic other viral illnesses such as fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Typically these symptoms last up to a week. The incubation period is 1 day to 1 week from contracting the virus. The viral illness is self-limiting and usually resolves. There have been some links between the infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome (a usually self-limiting paralysis of muscles, although it can be fatal). The biggest risks are to unborn children whose mothers become infected during pregnancy. In Brazil the rates of microcephaly (or small heads) and other associated birth defects went up by 250% since 2015.
Prevention of infection involves avoiding bites and protecting yourself. Aedes mostly bites during daylight hours. Insect repellants containing DEET are an easily obtainable way to ward of the Aedes mosquito. Infants older than 2 months may use insect sprays with DEET. Pick a repellant with a concentration that will last long enough for your intended exposure. For example, a DEET of 10% may protect you for 2 hours while a DEET of 24% protects you for up to 5 hours. There is no benefit to wearing above 30% DEET. Repellants made from Picaridin lasts 3-8 hours depending on concentration. Repellants made from essential oils like citronella, cedar, eucalyptus, and soybean were recommended by CDC in 2005 as alternatives. They tend to last less than 2 hours and have variable success at repelling ticks.
Clear your yard of standing water (bird baths, unused pots, etc.), and avoid dark/damp parts of your yard (shaded ivy beds, wooded areas). Wear long sleeved light colored clothing and closed toed shoes. Spare the perfumed lotions. Make sure screens for windows are repaired.
In addition, wearing clothing washed in permetherin and long sleeves/pants/socks is helpful as well if you are traveling to an endemic area. There is no vaccine available currently. If you have traveled to a Zika endemic area, continue to use insect repellant for 3 weeks afterwards to help prevent the spread of Zika in the US.
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