zika is a disease caused by a virus. the virus is transmitted mainlythrough the bite of the aedes mosquito which also transmitsother diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. it's also sometimescalled the "yellow fever mosquito". a mosquito could get infected if it bites someone who hasthe zika virus in their blood. it can then bite another person, transmitting the virus to him or her.
the aedes mosquitobites mostly during the day. zika can also be passed through sex. a man can reducethe risk of transmitting zika like any other sexually-transmitted diseases by abstaining or byusing a condom every time. if infected, a pregnant womancan transmit the virus to her baby. in some cases this transmission occursbefore she even knows that she is pregnant. if you think youmight be infected and pregnant, tell your healthcare provider immediately.
a woman of child-bearing age should consider abstainingfrom sex or using a contraceptive. if a couple wants to try to have a baby, it is best for bothto talk with a doctor about when it is safeto resume unprotected intercourse. most people have the greatest chanceof getting zika from a mosquito bite. the best way to avoid getting bittenand to limit spread of the disease is through mosquito control. mosquitoes often hide in dark areasbehind plants and shrubs.
indoors some mosquitoesthat carry zika can hide under beds, behind curtains or in the kitchen or bathroom. at home place screens in doorsand windows and keep them closed. cover or fill any other openings that mosquitoes coulduse to enter your home. insecticide can besprayed in the home and permethrin sprayedon gear and clothing to help repel mosquitoes.
always follow the label instructionsor public health agency advice when using these products. if pregnant, ask yourpersonal health care provider which of these productsyou should use and how often and where to apply use a mosquito repellentrecommended by public health officials. read and follow instructions carefully when applying itto exposed areas of your skin. be careful around the eyes,nose and mouth.
don't forget to put it onafter you apply sun screen. use battery or electric diffuserswith pads impregnated with insecticides. cover yourself whenpossible by wearing socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts, preferably light-colored. install nets around beds andsleeping areas and baby carriages. this is especially importantif sleeping outdoors or with open windows without screens. make sure children or family memberswho are sick or sleep during the day
use a bed net. ask your family to help clean uparound your home and yard. mosquitoes can lay eggsin small amounts of still water, even as little as that in a bottle cap. water can collect in many differentplaces in a garden or yard, driveway or walkway. cleaning up is more effective when performed with yourneighbors and the community. this is not a one-time task.
to clean up, you should: remove all stagnant or standingwater outside and inside the home. remove car tires that are not in use. pick up trash and place it in bagsthen securely tie them. or place objectsin tightly closed containers, and put the lid back on as soon as a collectionservice takes trash away. remove empty bottles andother containers that can hold water. if you need to keep these containers,make sure you store them
so they will nolonger collect any water. if these containers are kept,just emptying them is not enough. eggs can survive for many monthson the sides of containers even without water. scrub the sides and rim ofthese containers to remove the eggs. remove cut flowers from the home. clean roof gutters regularly place sand under potted plants. apply chlorine in swimming poolsto prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
ensure that cisterns and tanks withclean water for human consumption are tightly closedto keep out mosquitoes. mow lawns regularly. here again areactions you should take to help protect yourself and yourfamily from catching the zika virus and other serious diseasesspread by the same mosquito. you must use personal protectionplus clean up your yard and garden to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. if everyone works together,
you can help protect yourselfand your loved ones from zika, dengue, chikungunya and other illnesses. although you mightnever get sick from zika, what you do or don't do might affect the healthof the people close to you. act responsibly for the sake of others.
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