How to Avoid the Zika Virus – The Green Way

By admin | March 24, 2016 |

According to the CDC, in May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert relating to the very first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. The CDC says that essentially the most widespread symptoms with the Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is generally mild, with symptoms lasting from quite a few days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, nonetheless the babies delivered from infected women can have severe outcomes ranging from permanent birth defects to the death of the baby. And you’ll find reports that it may bring about Guillain-Barr syndrome in infected persons (a paralysis condition, equivalent to Polio, which could be short-term or permanent, sometimes even fatal).

Precautions we need to take:
1. Pregnant women, or men and women who may possibly turn out to be a parent, should really avoid locations known to be active with Zika. At the moment, the list of known countries with actively spreading Zika is 22 and expanding.
2. Keep away from mosquitos.
3. Eliminate mosquitos.

In addition to the 22 present nations that happen to be active with Zika, the United States has areas with established populations of the mosquitos that are recognized to carry Zika. They’re illustrated within the image map below.

*These maps were created by the CDC using currently available details. Mosquito populations could possibly be detected in locations not shaded on this map, and might not be regularly identified in all shaded places.

Since the Zika virus mainly spreads by way of mosquito bites, one of the very best ways to keep away from the illness is usually to steer clear of mosquito bites. The CDC advises the public to cover ourselves with layers of clothing, together with long-sleeved shirts and long pants or netting, and apply insect repellants following these simple guidelines.

* Comply with the product label directions.
* Pregnant and breast-feeding women should only us EPA-approved repellants.
* Reapply insect repellent as advised by the repellent.
* Prevent spraying repellent onto the skin below clothing.
* Apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent if you are utilizing each.
* Youngsters under 2 months old cannot use insect repellants.
* Young children more than two months old: Don’t apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin. Adults: Apply insect repellent onto your hands after which apply it towards the child’s face.

We can also reduce the probability of the Zika infection by clearing away mosquitoes in our proximity either just before they hatch or soon after they completely develop.

Ahead of mosquito season, cover, dump, modify or treat significant water-holding containers with long-lasting larvicide.
Immediately after mosquitoes have already grown into adulthood, traps and poisons are the most typical approaches. Also, the avoidance and destruction of their habitat near your home may also help to lower your exposure.

The Placer Mosquito Control District advises us to stay clear of mosquito habitats for example locations with heavy underbrush or standing water.

The World Clinic advises: Prevent tall grass, weeds and shrubs as adult mosquitos make their home there; and pay attention to drainage around the yard. Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed around the property, so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.

From the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley: Decrease back tall weeds and bushes. These offer homes for adult mosquitoes. For those who limit these, you might lessen the amount of adult mosquitoes.

In accordance with Wikihow: Mosquitoes aren’t likely to lay eggs in tall grass, however they have a tendency to sit in tall grass for rest and hiding. Keep your grass as short as you can and cut it as regularly as you can.

And from Mosquitoworld.net: Cut the grass and trim the bushes. Through the day, mosquitoes like to rest in tall grass or amongst shrubs inside a moist, shady spot. Keeping the grass short deprives them of a resting spot.

If tall underbrush is in close proximity to you and must be trimmed, and a lawnmower or even a line trimmer is just not sensible, then perhaps a uncomplicated hand tool would be more helpful. Think about applying either a machete or even a Bush Hook or perhaps a Brush Axe or another form of brush clearing tool. These low-cost and easy to use hand tools had been made specifically for clearing patches of weeds and underbrush swiftly, specially in challenging and crowded or slanted situations. They may be not very common today, but thankfully, Nursery Enterprises carries various different types and sizes of brush-clearing hand tools.

Although no one can assure that we will not be impacted by Zika, we can however, reduce the probability with these commonsense measures. Should you believe that you simply may have already been exposed and infected with Zika, then please speak to your medical professional not merely for your personal welfare, but additionally on behalf of those around you.

Below are some helpful posters and illustrations from the CDC which may be relevant in your efforts to eradicate mosquitoes.