What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

Florida Governor Rick Scott has issued an executive order to declare a public health emergency for the counties whose residents have travel-related cases of Zika, including Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Osceola, Santa Rosa and St. Johns. In Miami-Dade, the county’s mosquito control section has been following its standard mosquito control protocol with the Mosquito Control Section remaining vigilant and prepared to respond aggressively should elevated mosquito control measures become necessary.

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

There have been 16 confirmed Zika virus cases in the state of Florida, all travel related.

When traveling to countries where Zika virus or other viruses spread by mosquitoes are found, take the following steps:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breast-feeding women.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items.