Lifeline RX Week 3, February 2016

The bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito can spread dengue, chikungunya, or Zika viruses.

While chikungunya virus is relatively new to the Turks and Caicos Islands, dengue has been present in country for nearly five years. Now Zika virus, which has been reported in over 20 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, has become an eminent threat.

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are mild fever, skin rash, pink eye, muscle or joint pain, and general malaise. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika.

Although symptoms of Zika are typically mild, there have been reports of congenital, neurological and autoimmune complications. For reasons that are not fully understood, a relationship has been established between pregnant women infected with Zika and cases of the birth defect microcephaly, which causes abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. There has also been some evidence of vertical transmission of the Zika virus from mother to child. Some countries with Zika have reported an increase in neurological and autoimmune syndromes, particularly Gullian-Barré syndrome (an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the nerves).

The best way to combat these diseases is to protect yourself, your family, and community from mosquito bites.

Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes lay several hundred eggs on the walls of water filled containers. Eggs stick to containers like glue and remain attached until they are scrubbed off. When water covers the eggs, they hatch and become adults in about a week. Adult mosquitoes live inside and outside. They prefer to bite during the day. A few infected mosquitoes can produce large outbreaks in a community and put your family at risk of becoming sick.

1. Eliminate standing water in and around your home:

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, or trash containers.

Check inside and outside your home;

• Tightly cover boats, children’s pools, and water storage containers like buckets, tanks, and drums so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs;
• Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly; and properly dispose of all garbage or refuse

2. Keep mosquitoes out of your home:

• Use screens on windows and doors;
• Repair holes in screens; and use air conditioning when available.
• If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel room, sleep under a mosquito net

3. Prevent mosquito bites:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants;
• Use mosquito repellent with higher percentages of active ingredient for longer protection. Products containing DEET like Off and Cutter are recommended.
• Always follow the product label instructions;
• Reapply insect repellent every few hours, depending on which product and strength you choose;
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing;
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

For additional information regarding Zika virus, contact the Health Promotion Unit at 338-3064.