Zika Virus
Stop Mosquitoes Where They Start…
An important way to stop the spread of Zika is to stop the spread of mosquitoes! Reducing standing water, where mosquitoes breed, around your home is the best way you can help!
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
- Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.
- If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- Bug zappers do NOT reduce the mosquito population.
- Learn more about Cumberland County's Evening Control Program
Prevent Mosquito Bites
- Keep mosquitoes out of your home with window and door screens and use air conditioning when possible.
- Use EPA registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin (aka KBR3023, Bayrepel or icaridin), IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus/paramthan
- Wear long sleeves and pants when possible
- Be sure to treat clothing and gear with repellent
- If using sunscreen too, put sunscreen on before insect repellent
- Rid your house of standing water inside and out to decrease number of mosquitoes
- Prevent bites after travel too!
- Even if you do not feel sick, it is important to take extra precautions against mosquito bites for three weeks after travel. This prevents the Zika virus from entering into the mosquito population and becoming established in your area.
Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. If you are pregnant the Center for Disease Control recommends avoiding travel to areas experiencing a Zika outbreak. Prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants and use an EPA registered repellent. Learn more about Zika and pregnancy.
What is Zika?
- A virus first discovered in Uganda in 1947
- Transmitted to humans primarily through bites by Aedes species of mosquito (Asian Tiger mosquito locally)
- May also be transmitted through sex and from a pregnant woman to her fetus
- Outbreaks have occurred since its discovery, though often go unreported due to the mild nature of the symptoms
Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Many people infected with the Zika virus do not experience symptoms or only have mild symptoms. Many cases go unreported for this reason. - Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle pain and headaches
- Symptoms may last several days to a week
- See your doctor if you have these symptoms and have been to an area with Zika
- There is no vaccine or medication to treat Zika. If infected you will be advised to treat the symptoms; rest, fluids and acetaminophen for pain and fever
- Learn more about signs, symptoms and treatment
Asian Tiger Mosquito
- The Asian Tiger Mosquito is an aggressive day biter, but can also be active at night
- Present, but not common in Cumberland County area
- Takes 7-10 days for eggs to develop into full grown mosquito
- Lays eggs on walls of items containing water
- Eggs can survive for up to 8 months on container walls in warmer climates