There has been more than 1,600 reported Zika infections in the United States mostly linked to travel outside the United States.
But now, Florida has four cases of Zika that health officials believe have likely been transmitted by local mosquitoes carrying the disease. As scary as this sounds, officials expect the Miami-Dade area to contain the virus as the United States has better sanitation and living conditions than other countries where the Zika outbreaks have been widespread.
Chief Health Editor Dr. Partha Nandi has answers to some of the questions you may have about Zika.
How serious is this when it comes to blood donations?
Blood centers in Miami-Dade and the surrounding Broward counties have been asked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to suspend collecting blood until they are setup to screen each unit for the Zika virus. The testing is expected to begin soon. Anyone recently traveling to and from areas with Zika outbreaks should avoid giving blood for safety reasons.
What’s the risk here in Michigan?
Michigan is considered a low risk state for transmission of Zika. There’s been 14 cases of Zika identified but they’re travel-related. However since Zika causes devastating birth defects, I’d suggest taking precautions:
Partha’s RX for Avoiding Mosquito Bites
1. Use Insect Repellent
Choose products with ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or Para-menthane-diol.
2. Wear Long Tops and Pants and Spray with Insect Repellent
This provides extra protection as mosquitoes can still bite through thin clothing.
3. Always follow the product’s label instructions
Reapply as directed.
4. EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective
Even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
How can you know if you have the Zika virus?
A blood or urine test can be done to confirm if someone has the Zika infection. However, some people infected won’t know they have Zika as many don’t get symptoms or may have common ones like fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes. If you think you have Zika, see your doctor for a diagnosis.
