Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person already infected with the virus. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Doctors hypothesize that Zika can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy, and it has recently been reported to be sexually transmittable as well. Zika virus is thought to be linked to microcephaly, a condition that causes severe disfiguration in newborns.
Zika virus is spreading rapidly throughout the Western hemisphere, currently located in 26 countries worldwide. With millions of cases reported in South and Central America, the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency, and the Center for Disease Control has upgraded to an emergency level one status. No cases have originated in the United States.
There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika virus, so the best way to protect yourself is to guard against mosquito bites. Mosquito control services such as our barrier treatments will dramatically reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard, protecting you and your family for up to 21 days at a time. In addition to this line of defense, you can eliminate breeding areas in your yard to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs. Consider the following:
- Unblock drains and gutters
- Avoid accumulating garbage
- Avoid allowing standing water to accumulate in outdoor containers such as flowerpots, tires or children’s toys
- Screen windows and doors
- Use mosquito repellant and wear protective clothing
