The threat of Zika is real—the time to take precautions is now
There’s no disagreeing that mosquitos are a pain. And while getting bitten is annoying and itchy, all of us are aware of the various diseases that mosquitos can carry and the dangers of getting bitten by one that’s infected.
Recently, you may have been hearing about the latest of the mosquito-borne viruses, Zika. And while all of the cases of Zika that have been reported in the United States were in those people who had traveled outside of the USA, it’s important for everyone to be aware of this virus and how to prevent it.
What exactly is Zika?
Just like the other mosquito-borne viruses that most of us are familiar with, Zika is transmitted when an infected mosquito bites a human. The species of mosquito that primarily carries Zika is the Aedes variety.
And although these mosquitos have been most prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean, experts are saying that is it something that Americans will likely have to even more concerned about in the coming months.
In fact, recently, there have been 31 travel-associated cases of Zika reported in 11 of the United States.
What are the symptoms?
Not everyone who is bitten by a Zika-infested mosquito gets sick; the average is about 1 in 5 people. Symptoms most commonly experienced include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
Why is it dangerous?
Although the symptoms of Zika may be seemingly mild, the dangers of the disease can be far worse for certain people. The World Health Organization is examining links between Zika and neurological syndromes that can cause paralysis, which has elevated concern among health experts.
For pregnant women, Zika is considered extremely dangerous because there have been 4,000 cases in Brazil that link the virus to microcephaly, a rare birth defect that causes babies to be born with smaller, calcified brains. This happens when a mother who’s infected transmits the virus to her unborn baby.
How do you prevent Zika?
It’s important to be wary of the threat of infection and to take precautionary measures against exposure to mosquitos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising pregnant women to avoid traveling to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Latin American and Caribbean countries and cautioning all others to simply avoid areas where cases of the disease have been reported.
Other steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from Zika include:
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long- pants when going outside
- Use insect repellent (only on adults and children older than 6 months—and after reading the warning label to ensure it is safe for your child)
- Stay inside buildings that have air conditioning or that have screens over windows so mosquitos cannot get in
- Remove or empty sources of standing water
- Install a mosquito control system to rid mosquitos from your property
Eliminate all mosquitos using our automatic misting system
Life in South Florida would be a lot less enjoyable if we had to resign ourselves to staying indoors to avoid mosquitos. With our automatic misting system, there’s no need to worry about Zika or mosquitos carrying any of the other of mosquito-borne viruses swarming around your yard.
Each of our systems is custom designed for your property and provides consistent protection, misting Pyrethrum, an insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower, that repels and kills any biting insects in and around the area. Our systems are installed to protect whatever areas you need, including your patio, terrace, balcony, sports courts, front entryway, garages, etc.
The threat of Zika and all of the other mosquito-borne illnesses is definitely something to be aware of and take precautions against. Our mosquito control system gently mists your property with a blend of Pyrethrum and Permethrin to repel mosquitos Get in touch with us today for a free onsite consultation.
