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In hype of the explosive spreading of the Zika virus that has been claiming headline spots lately, some South Georgia residents may have wondered how the threat may affect them. Fortunately, although mosquito heavy, the region shouldn’t have much to worry about.
Currently, the information concerning overseas outbreaks suggests that only the Aedes aegypti, or yellow fever mosquito, species is in involved in transmission of the virus.
“This particular mosquito differs from most others in being highly adapted to humans, preferring to feed on us rather than other warm-blooded animals,” says Mark Blackmore, PhD, Professor of Biology at Valdosta State University. “It is a ‘container breeder’ so the eggs are often laid in containers (including junk tires and other trash) found around homes and in urban settings.”
The aedes aegypti does not tend to fly very far from where they originally developed. And to our good fortune, the species has been displaced by a different species in much of the Southeastern United States. Today, there are very few populations left in areas where it was once common.
“I wouldn’t worry about transmission of Zika unless I was in one of the remnant areas, particularly urban areas in southern Florida, but also Jacksonville in the north,” Blackmore says.
Even if an infected traveler returned to South Georgia after visiting Brazil, he or she is highly unlikely to infect anyone else. There is still concern that if infected traveler is a pregnant woman, her baby could have birth defects.
General information from the CDC on the virus including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment have been supplied below.
Symptoms
About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika).
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week.
The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.
Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people.
Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
Deaths are rare.
Diagnosis
The symptoms of Zika are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya, diseases spread through the same mosquitoes that transmit Zika.
See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above and have visited an area where Zika is found.
If you have recently traveled, tell your healthcare provider when and where you traveled.
Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to look for Zika or other similar viruses like dengue or chikungunya.
Treatment
No vaccine or medications are available to prevent or treat Zika infections.
Treat the symptoms:
Get plenty of rest
Drink fluids to prevent dehydration
Take medicines, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain
Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen. Aspirin and NSAIDs should be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of hemorrhage (bleeding). If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.
If you have Zika, avoid mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.
During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites.
An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.