What You Need to Know ZIKA VIRUS

Transcription

1 What You Need to Know ZIKA VIRUS

2 What is Zika Virus? Zika virus is a flavivirus related to dengue, West Nile, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis Zika virus first identified in 1947 and named for the Zika Forest in Uganda Transmitted to humans through bites from the Aedes mosquito Aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus Aedes albopictus found in some parts of Orange County

3 Zika in The United States There are no locally acquired cases of Zika in the United States Locally acquired means being bitten by an infected mosquito in the area Locally acquired Zika has been reported in Puerto Rico, The US Virgin Islands, And American Samoa There have been 46 confirmed cases of Zika Virus Disease in New York State All but one returning travelers The other is a possible case of sexual transmission

4 What Are the Symptoms of Zika? Symptoms are typically mild Symptoms can begin 2-7 days to 4 weeks after being bitten Many people might not know they have Zika Symptoms Include: Acute onset of fever Rash with small red bumps Joint Pain Conjunctivitis Pink Eye

5 Additional Zika Symptoms Other symptoms include: Headache Muscle Pain Pain behind the eyes If present, symptoms usually last several days to a week There is no evidence that Zika can cause death

6 Diagnosis Tell your health care provider if you develop symptoms after travelling to an area with active Zika If you have recently travelled, let your health care provider know where you travelled Based on symptoms and travel history, your health care provider may order blood tests This must be done at specific collection centers

7 Treatment Options There currently is no vaccine or medication to prevent or treat Zika Virus Disease If symptoms are present, they should be treated: Plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration Rest Pain relievers Fever reducers

8 Preventing Mosquito Bites The best defense is prevention The mosquitoes that carry Zika bite mainly during the day If returning from travel to an area with Zika, prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks Mosquito can bite, get the Zika virus from an infected person, bite another person and transfer the virus

9 Preventing Mosquito Bites Wear long sleeve shirts and pants Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active Use repellants registered with the EPA Do not overuse repellants Only use enough as needed for protection Always read and follow label directions

10 Mosquito Control The public can help control the mosquito population Once a week, scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water such as: Tires Planters Toys Pools Flowerpots Trash Containers If these containers can t be emptied, please use a dunk kit (larvicide)

11 Mosquito Control Tightly cover water storage containers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in them Use screens on windows and doors. Repair any holes to help keep mosquitoes out of the house Use air conditioning whenever possible To prevent mosquito bites, use an EPA registered repellant

12 Zika and Pregnancy Pregnant women primarily acquire Zika through mosquito bites However, Zika can be sexually transmitted from her male sex partner Zika can be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy or at delivery Zika can cause birth defects including microcephaly Also: eye defects, hearing loss and impaired growth

13 Zika and Pregnancy Based on evidence, in a woman who is not pregnant, a Zika infection would not pose a threat to future birth defects after the virus has cleared the blood The virus stays in the blood for about a week Based on evidence, once a person has Zika Virus Disease, they are likely to be protected against future infections.

14 NYS testing For Zika NYS state is offering free testing to the following: Pregnant women who travelled to an area with active mosquito-borne transmission of Zika while pregnant All pregnant women who, at any point in their pregnancy, had unprotected sex with a partner who has travelled to an area with active mosquito-borne Zika Non-pregnant women, men, and children who develop compatible symptoms during or within 4 weeks of travelling to an area with active mosquitoborne Zika transmission.

15 NYS Testing for Zika Persons who travelled to an area with active mosquito-borne transmission of Zika who present with Guillan-Barre Syndrome Infants with microcephaly or intracranial calcifications who were born to women who travelled to an area with active mosquitoborne Zika transmission while pregnant.

16 Recommendations for Pregnant Women CDC advises pregnant women to abstain from sex or use condoms consistently for all sexual activities for the duration of her pregnancy if her partner lives in, or has travelled to, an area with active mosquitoborne Zika transmission Avoid travel to areas where Zika is ongoing If travel is necessary, talk to a health care provider and take steps to avoid mosquito bites

17 For More Information New York State Department of Health website: New York State Department of Health Informational Helpline: Order free dunk (larvicide) kits Obtain Zika prevention kits for pregnant women Sullivan County Public Health Services Information Line: