• Zika was first discovered in 1947.
• Zika, doesn’t infect the same mosquitoes as West Nile virus (the Culex species spreads West Nile).
• Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits Zika. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes spread Zika, Yellow Fever, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses.
• Aedes mosquitoes are not always seen since they don’t typically fly out in front of you.
• Aedes mosquitoes are sneaky preferring to bite in the daytime while lurking close to the ground, where they are more difficult to spot (they will also feed at night). Be sure to protect and cover your legs and feet.
• Aedes mosquitoes will breed in water collected in old tires, ditches that don’t drain, flowerpots, small jars, pet dishes, bird baths, clogged gutters and even containers as small as a bottle cap. Homeowners should empty any and all containers with standing water. Your yard could be the breeding ground.
• Aedes aegypti mosquitoes don’t travel very far. Given the chance, they’ll even reside in the cleanest homes, preferring to hide in utility rooms, and will bite everything in sight.
• Mosquitoes will lay eggs, often waiting for a few drops of water so they can hatch (some mosquito eggs can withstand drying for up to a year). Eggs are often found along riverbanks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, currently, there is no vaccine or medicine for the Zika Virus (CDC Website: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html).

Read more about Mosquito Bite Prevention (PDF)

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• The Zika Virus has become a growing concern, especially with pregnant women. Those infected may give birth to babies with microcephaly, a disorder that leads to babies born with abnormally small heads and severe brain damage.
• The New England Journal of Medicine, shows a staggering jump in the risk rate if a mother is infected with Zika in the first trimester.
• Symptoms of the virus include muscle aches, a rash and pink eye or conjunctivitis.
• Pregnant women should reach out to their doctors for more information, as not everyone knows if they’ve contracted the virus.
• In adults the Zika Virus has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological auto-immune disease that can cause paralysis and death.
• Beware, the mosquito that carries Zika doesn’t travel very far during its lifetime. The species that carries Zika tend to live right around homes.
• Prevent or avoid mosquito breeding. Health officials ask residents to remove or dump anything that holds standing water, including bird baths, old tires, gutters, potted plants and children’s toys.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect from mosquito bites.

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