Now that we are in the middle of flu season, many people are hyper-aware of infection and how germs are transmitted. One worrisome virus in the news lately in particular is the Zika virus.
While the news coverage of this virus has been plentiful, the statistics are not unlike the “typical” flu virus. In fact, only one in five people who are infected with the Zika virus will get sick and only 80% of those report feeling any symptoms at all.
The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in the ‘40s and has recently been confirmed to be present in the United States. It is extremely rare that the Zika virus leads to death and, poses the greatest risk to women who are pregnant because the virus will cause a deadly condition in the fetus known as microcephaly.
Just like the ‘typical’ flu virus that we deal with every year, there is no cure for the Zika virus. The best way to avoid getting it, is to avoid getting bit by an infected mosquito.
Here are some tips for dealing with mosquitos this spring and summer:
- Get rid of any standing water. If you notice any water puddles or water that has collected in your backyard, make sure to dry it up and put a system in place to prevent this from happening in future.
- Check your screens. Mosquitos can make their way into your home through the smallest opening. Check the weather stripping around your doors and windows and also the screens on your doors and windows to make sure there aren’t any air leaks where mosquitos could get inside.
- Once the weather warms up and you and your family are spending time outdoors, keep long-sleeved shirts on to protect your arms and rub lemon and eucalyptus oils on exposed skin.
Contact a pest control specialist to do an inspection of your home and the area around it to identify any places that would be attractive to mosquitos. While they are mostly dormant right now, mosquitos will start to move around and begin breeding in the coming months, so it is better to eliminate any potential mosquito habitats now before they get active.
