Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world because of the diseases they spread. Zika virus disease (Zika) spreads to people mainly through the bite of two types of mosquitoes. The newest edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs focuses on the threat of Zika to pregnant women and their fetuses and the steps that can be taken by them, their partners and communities to thwart this public health risk. In past outbreaks, most people with Zika have not gotten sick, so people may not even know they've been infected.
Based on current knowledge, the greatest risk for complications from Zika is to a pregnant woman's fetus. According to the Vital Signs report, pregnant women can take the following actions:
- Avoid travel to any area with Zika.
- Take preventive steps such as wearing insect repellent.
- Talk to her doctor first if she must travel to an area with Zika, and get tested for Zika between 2 and 12 weeks after returning.
- Use latex condoms, the right way, every time or choose not to have any type of sex with a partner who has been in an area with Zika.
For more information on Zika and pregnancy, visit the CDC website.
For more information on animal-borne diseases, please contact our Zoonosis Program at
303-232-6301 or dvolkel@jeffco.us.
Jefferson County Public Health in
partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE) is advising the public that amid concerns about the potential
association between Zika virus infection
and birth defects in Brazil, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
issued and is updating travel warnings
about areas with ongoing risk. Zika virus transmission now affects more
than 20 countries and territories in the Americas. People in the U.S. who have
had the virus all traveled to areas where it is common.
Women who are pregnant or
attempting to become pregnant should consider postponing travel to those places
and check the CDC website for current alerts.
Zika virus is carried by the
Aedes species mosquitoes. These mosquitoes pick up the virus when they bite an
infected person and spread it by biting other people. The primary mosquito for
Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, doesn’t live in Colorado, because our state is too
dry and cold for them. The other mosquito that might transmit Zika, Aedes
albopictus, has a larger range, but also does not live in Colorado.
Zika virus is usually mild, and
symptoms last only a few days to a week. The most common symptoms are fever,
rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). You can prevent illness by
preventing mosquito bites. People traveling to areas where Zika has been
transmitted should use an EPA-registered repellent and apply and re-apply
products according to the label directions. Examples of EPA-registered
repellents are DEET, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin. The
mosquitoes that carry Zika are aggressive daytime biters and will bite indoors
and out.
Travelers who think they may be
ill with Zika should consult their health care provider. Zika virus testing is
available for symptomatic people only from the CDC and four U.S. state health
departments. Colorado’s state laboratory is not testing for Zika virus at this
time, but will help health care providers send samples for testing.
If you have more questions about
Zika, visit the CDC web page, the CDPHE web page or contact COHelp at
877-462-2911.
