What Are You Doing To Protect Yourself From Zika

The mosquito borne Zika virus is still a health risk across the United States, and with mosquito season well under way, it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe from these disease spreading pests. It’s not also just the threat of Zika, there are many other illnesses that can be transmitted by these deadly critters.

Protecting yourself from mosquitoes, the Zika virus

There have been cases of Zika found in the Rio Grande Valley. David Leal with Healthy South Texas said it’s important that people know that they can lower their chances of becoming infected. “Knowing when mosquitoes are a little hungrier and want to bite, when the sun rises and when the sun sets, we can use an insect repellent that has DEET in it,” Leal said. “Try to have 25-percent DEET in the insect repellent that you use.” Leal also suggests things like wearing light colors because mosquitoes like darker colors, and apply sunscreen first and then insect repellent.

In 2016, the Zika virus was highly documented in news reports and health warnings were given. Things have quietened down on the Zika front, but it doesn’t mean that we’re not all still at risk. Here’s what you need to know about the virus.

There is not yet a vaccination available for Zika. However, there have been developments in research in eliminating prenatal infections. Here’s an article with more information.

A Zika vaccine could virtually eliminate prenatal infections, model shows

Mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted Zika virus has become widespread across Central and South America, and the Caribbean. A viable vaccine is expected to be available in the next several years, but a vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infections depends not only on its efficacy, but also on demographic and fertility patterns, local Zika attack rates, and the proportion of the population still susceptible when it becomes available.

As we like to continually remind you… there are ways in which you can protect yourself from mosquitoes. It’s time to take action and continue our fight against the most deadly creature in the world.