The Florida Department of Health in Sumter County wants to make Sumter County residents aware of the emergence of Zika virus in several South and Central American and Caribbean countries. ZIKV is an infectious virus that is spread by the bite of mosquitos. Certain countries that are experiencing Zika virus transmission, have also reported increases in cases of microcephaly, a debilitating congenital defect that causes the baby to be born with an undersized head.
If it will be necessary for you to travel to South America, Central America, and/or the Caribbean, caution should be taken to avoid mosquito bites, especially if you are pregnant.
The emergence of this virus is important as there are an estimated 20 million travelers to and from Florida and the Caribbean alone. Signs and symptoms include fever (mild when present), joint & muscle pain, rash, and headache. If you have had recent (within the last 14 days) travel to the Caribbean, South or Central America and are experiencing the above mentioned symptoms, please contact your local healthcare provider.
While the link between Zika virus infection, microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes is not well understood, pregnant women in any trimester are still advised to consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women, and those trying to conceive, who must travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other health care provider first and strictly follow the steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.
If you are planning future travel to South America, Central America and/or the Caribbean, the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County recommends that you protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by:
• Using mosquito repellant with DEET, Picaridin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535
• It is safe for pregnant or nursing women to use EPA-approved repellants if applied according to package label instructions.
• Staying indoors at dusk and dawn (when possible)
• Wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants (when possible)
• Staying in homes/hotels with screened windows
The current ZIKV outbreak is believed to have started in Brazil in mid-2015. Since then, cases have been detected in around 13 different countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean. Transmission had previously, in large part, been isolated to parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. There are currently no reports of locally acquired cases of ZIKV. Members of the community are encouraged to consult with their local healthcare provider whenever ZIKV or any other mosquito-borne infection is suspected.
Information on Zika virus in the Americas may be obtained from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/. Further questions can be directed to the Florida Department of Healthin Sumter County Epidemiology Program at: (352)569-3102.