Zika is a viral disease spread to people mainly via bites of infected mosquitoes, however, the virus lives in bodily fluids and sexual transmission has been documented.
Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected people. The virus is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti (Yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger mosquito). While both types of mosquitoes have been found in Virginia Beach, the Asian Tiger mosquito is more common.
There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available for the virus. The best defense at this point is protection against mosquito bites and the best way to protect against bites is to keep mosquitoes from breeding.
Prevention
The best way to prevent Zika Virus from gaining a foothold in Virginia Beach is to keep mosquitoes from breeding.
What Can You Do?
Mosquitoes eggs can survive in just a teaspoon of standing water. The best way to protect your family and community is to search out and eliminate standing water around your home/property at least twice a week. Please also encourage friends and neighbors to do the same.
Print this "Fight the Bite: Tip & Toss Checklist" and keep it on your refrigerator as a reminder.
Additional tips to avoid mosquito bites:
- If you're going to be outside, wear loose, light-colored, long-sleeved shirts/pants and treat your clothes with permethrin.
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol.
- Stay in places with air conditioning and window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
- If you are camping outside (or traveling overseas), sleep under a mosquito net.
- If you cannot eliminate standing water in your yard and it cannot be covered or dumped out (like a rain barrel or bird bath), use larvicides to treat the standing water. Larvicides may be purchased in tablet form (Mosquito dunks®) at home improvement stores. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package.
Spraying
Day-to-day mosquito problems are most often the result of mosquitoes that breed in containers. Because the types of mosquitoes that can spread the disease are active during the day, and mosquito spraying performed by Virginia Beach Mosquito Control must be done in early morning and in the evening, additional spraying is minimally effective against them.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are:
- Fever
- Rash
- Joint pain
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
The illness is usually mild and symptoms last 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.
If you feel that you may have Zika virus, talk to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will contact the local health department to determine if testing is necessary.
Where do Mosquitoes that Spread Zika Live?
This map from the CDC depicts the center's best estimate of the potential range of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the United States. The blue and green regions are areas where Aedes mosquitoes are currently or have been previously found.
Infections in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health updates the numbers and locations of infections statewide once a week.
Zika Virus and Pregnancy
Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
Traveling to Areas with Zika Outbreaks
Specific areas where Zika is spreading are often difficult to determine and are likely to change over time. If traveling, please visit the CDC Travelers' Health site for the most updated travel information.
Even if they do not feel sick, travelers returning from an area with Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks so they do not spread Zika to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people.