With the spread of Zika Virus, the New York State Department of Health is concerned about travelers returning to the U.S., particularly women who are pregnant. There are precautions you can take to prevent yourself and your child from acquiring mosquito bites that could potentially cause Zika Virus.
Zika is a flavivirus related to dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis, according to the New York State Department of Health. Of the 544 cases of Zika reported in the U.S., all were travel-related and 151 were in the New York City area. There has been no local U.S. transmission, so you currently cannot get the virus from a mosquito in the U.S., according to Sheila Nolan, M.D., Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
Effects of Zika
“For most people Zika symptoms are very mild, but during pregnancy there is a strong association with fetal infection and a significant infection in the brain that can cause microcephaly,” Dr. Nolan says.
Microcephaly is a birth defect where the fetus’ head is smaller than normal. If a female is returning from an infected area, she should talk to her obstetrician about getting tested for Zika upon arrival to the U.S., according to Dr. Nolan.
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
“If you are traveling to areas of risk, primarily, South and Central America, your best way to prevent getting bitten is insect repellant with DEET and to wear long clothing,” Dr. Nolan suggests.
DEET, or diethyltoluamide, is the active ingredient in various insect repellents that offers the best protection against mosquito bites, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. As long as label directions are followed, DEET is not harmful—it should not be breathed in, swallowed, or applied to the eyes. Products with DEET are safe to use on children older than 2 months.
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If you are sleeping outside or you cannot keep mosquitos out of your home, be sure to cover your bed, crib, stroller, or baby carrier with mosquito netting. You can also purchase clothing that is treated to repel insects.
“If you think you have been infected in another country, don’t let yourself get bit here because that is how the virus spreads,” Dr. Nolan says.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Zika Plan
With the progression of mosquito season, Mayor Bill de Blasio has enacted a three-year, five-borough plan to protect New Yorkers from Zika, and to prevent it’s spread in New York City, according to NYC Gov.
De Blasio’s plan to combat Zika focuses on three areas: clinical services, mosquito control, and public awareness. The Health Department is expanding capacity in order to meet the demand for increased testing along with establishing a call center for health care providers to process all of the testing requests. Areas that show higher numbers of the Aedes mosquito will be targeted for breeding ground control, pesticides, and mosquito traps. The city will also hold events that disperse information about travel warnings, mosquito prevention, and available testing.
“We are doing all we can to target the mosquito that could transmit Zika here in the city, and building the capacity to respond to every possible scenario, no matter how unlikely,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
For more information on the plan and Zika prevention, visit health.ny.gov.
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