activities at these times because the Aedes mosquitoes are most active. Be careful, these mosquitoes are also found in dark and cool places. They bite under your seat or feed on your ankles. Stay indoors when dining at restaurants. 3. Drain and remove any standing and stagnant water around your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs there.
4. DEET up. Use EPA approved insect repellants. 5. Close doors and windows and make sure screens don't have holes in them. 6. Cover up in the bedroom too! Use a condom during sex. The symptoms of Zika are often mild, last for several days and resolve spontaneously, so that even those who get infected may not be aware that they have acquired it. However, it
has been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurologic condition that causes nerve damage leading to paralysis. It can also cause encephalomyelitis or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to a viral illness.
The most common Zika symptoms are as follows: · Fever · Rash (usually itchy) · Joint pains · Conjunctivitis (“red” eyes) · Muscle pains · Headache
If you experience any of these symptoms, see a healthcare provider right away. Zika can be diagnosed with blood or urine tests. Currently, there is no specific medicine and only supportive care to relieve symptoms.
If you have travelled to Zika-infected areas, the CDC recommends not to have unprotected sex until after eight weeks (if you do NOT have symptoms) or six months (if you have symptoms or have been infected). You may not be in the business of procreation and making babies, but is of outmost importance that we do not propagate the virus by getting infected. For more information, visit the following websites http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseasesand-conditions/zika-virus/ Dr. Alan Briones is a Hospitalist and and Internal Medicine specialist at the University of Miami Health System.