MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS
WHAT ARE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES?
A mosquito-borne illness is a disease that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Examples include malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.
Anyone can contract a mosquito-borne illness, but those most at risk include:
People who work outdoors
Travelers to areas with mosquito-borne diseases
Healthcare workers who may work with infected patients
Prevention
Protect Yourself
Wear long sleeves and pants that cover your arms and legs and hats with mosquito netting to cover the face and neck.
Use insect repellent that includes proven active ingredients like DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Apply permethrin to clothing and gear.
Protect Your Property
Remove standing water, including water gathered in buckets or other areas.
Remove debris from around your property and fill in areas that could collect standing water.
Keep doors and windows closed to keep mosquitos from entering buildings.
Repellent Safety
Insect repellants are safe when used as directed and can reduce your chance of being infected with a mosquito-borne disease.
It is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women to use insect repellant.
Symptoms
West Nile
The majority of people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms.
1 in 5 will experience fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, and lasting fatigue and weakness.
1 in 150 will develop brain swelling or meningitis. In rare cases, death can occur.
Zika
The majority of people infected with Zika virus do not have any symptoms. However, the most common are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
People rarely get sick enough to be hospitalized or die.
If a pregnant person contracts Zika, it can cause serious birth defects. If you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with active Zika transmissions.
Other Illnesses
Additional mosquito-borne illnesses include:
Chikungunya: Symptoms include muscle pain, joint swelling, and headache.
Dengue: 1 in 4 people infected will get sick with symptoms that include eye pain, confusion, rash, and joint pain. Severe dengue requires hospitalization.
Treatment
If you think you have been exposed to a mosquito-borne illness or are having symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
West Nile
There is no treatment for West Nile virus.
In most cases, you will need to rest, drink plenty of fluids and treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications.
If you develop a severe case, you may be hospitalized.
Once you have had West Nile, it is widely believed that you are immune from getting the disease again.
Zika
There is no treatment for Zika virus.
If you are infected, you should treat the symptoms by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications to treat fever and pain.
Do not take NSAIDS, including aspirin. You can take acetaminophen, like Tylenol.
If you are treating someone with Zika, protect yourself from exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Other Illnesses
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya or dengue.
If you are infected, you should treat the symptoms by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications to treat fever and pain.
Do not take NSAIDS, including aspirin. You can take acetaminophen, like Tylenol.
If you believe you have severe dengue, seek medical attention immediately.
ZIKA AND PREGNANCY
Pregnant women infected with the Zika virus can pass the disease onto their unborn babies.
This can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, along with other brain defects.
While Zika is primarily spread through mosquitos, it can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person.