HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES ZIKA VIRUS NOTICE

The Maplewood Health Department issued this notice in the most recent version of the Maplewood Leaflet:

Zika Virus Information

The recent unpredictable spread of the Zika Virus has the health and healthcare community on alert for how to prevent the spread of Zika Virus.  As information is always changing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website is a good place to check for the latest information: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/  Here are some important facts as per the CDC:

• Zika virus disease (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 after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
• Zika virus is transmitted to people mainly through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito or through sexual transmission or maternal-fetal transmission.
• The assumption is that pregnant women represent a highly vulnerable population as Zika Virus infection in pregnant women has been associated with birth defects and adverse pregnancy outcomes, with growing evidence for a causal link as public health entities continue to monitor cases.
• If you are of childbearing age, whether male or female, please consider your travel itinerary to avoid areas that have mosquitoes that may be infected with Zika Virus. Refer to the CDC website for an updated list of countries currently monitored for Zika Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html

What can residents do to prevent mosquito breeding sites?
Residents can help to eliminate mosquito breeding sites by starting community cleanup campaigns (having tires removed off premises as water can collect in the rims of old tires, trash pickup around homes, and removal and cleaning of small and large containers which may also collect stagnant water).