WASHINGTON — People traveling to warm climates for spring break should take precautions to avoid exposure to the Zika virus that’s active now in tropical climates around the globe.
“Be sure that [mosquito repellents] are packed in checked luggage to avoid them being confiscated at airport security,” says University of Maryland Entomologist Mike Raupp.
Applying bug spray and sunscreen in the appropriate order is important to successfully repel mosquitoes.
“Put the sunscreen on first, let it dry for just a little bit and then put on your mosquito repellent so it’s nice and fresh,” Raupp advises. “Otherwise, the sunscreen will masque the effect of the mosquito repellent.”
The Zika virus can be spread from a mother to fetus and possibly cause birth defects. Most exposure comes from infected mosquitoes, but Zika is now known also to be transmitted sexually.
“Women have to be particularly careful if they’re traveling to these areas, or if their [sexual] partners have traveled to these areas,” Raupp cautions.
People very rarely die from the Zika virus disease. The illness is usually mild and lasts between a few days and a week. Symptoms include a fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
In February of this year, increased reports of birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome in Zika areas prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) that likely will continue to spread to new areas.
See comprehensive information about Zika from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
