How is Zika prevented and/or treated?
- There is not currently an approved vaccination for the Zika virus. Though a vaccine is being aggressively researched, the WHO (World Health Organization) anticipates that it will take at least 18 months before clinical trials can take place.
How is the Zika virus transmitted?
- The virus infects people through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same variety that transmits Chikungunya, Dengue, and Yellow Fever. This particular mosquito lives in all of the Americas except Chile and Canada. Local and international health officials warn that the virus will likely reach all regions where the Aedes mosquito thrives.
What is Zika’s connection to microcephaly and fatal fetal birth defects?
- After more than a year of ongoing investigation and debate, on April 13, 2016, the CDC concluded that the virus is indeed the cause of microcephaly and other serious and fatal fetal birth defects.
How deadly is the virus?
- It is widely believed that Zika is not fatal, but there are some cases of fatalities and serious complications in patients with pre-existing conditions and otherwise compromised immune systems. It is believed that Zika virus is also related to the development of Guillain-Barre disorder, a rare syndrome that causes the immune system to attack the nervous system.
- Brazil has been the country most affected by microcephaly thus far, with more than 4,800 cases related to the Zika virus. Pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy are considered most at risk, and evidence of the virus has been found in placental tissue, fetal tissue, and amniotic fluid.
What are the symptoms of infection?
- Symptoms can include fever, conjunctivitis, rash, muscle and joint discomfort, and general body aches and pain that can last up to a week. Typical symptoms resemble those found in patients infected with Dengue and Chikungunya. However, it is believed that more than 79% of infected people never experience any symptoms at all.
Is the Zika outbreak severe?
- According to the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Zika has been reported in more than 41 territories and countries, primarily in the Americas. Brazil has been the country hardest hit thus far.
What is being done to contain the Zika virus?
- Elimination of mosquito breeding areas, precautions against mosquito bites (like mosquito netting and insect spray) are among the most common efforts. Health officials have warned pregnant women to avoid traveling to Zika-prone countries.
If you are concerned about a mosquito problem or want to reduce the presence of mosquitos on your property, contact the professionals at Preventive Pest Control today for reliable mosquito control in Albuquerque.