Zika Virus Found in U.S. Including Louisiana

The much publicized Zika virus has now been found in the U.S. including Louisiana. This virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, the same mosquito that spreads dengue and chikungunya viruses.

They typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people.

Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue, and Zika are aggressive daytime biters but can also bite at night. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

The biggest threat of the Zika-spreading mosquito is to pregnant women who then have a probability of having a child with a serious birth defect.

Treatment

There is no vaccine or specific medicine to prevent or treat Zika infections. For maximum comfort, treat symptoms by:

• Getting plenty of rest.
• Drinking fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Taking medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to relieve fever and pain.
• Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.

Prevention

The best way to prevent the Zika virus is to prevent mosquitoes with proven treatments like our Mosquito Control Program.

Want to learn more? Click here.

Call us at 800-650-PEST to learn about our mosquito control services!