UNDERSTANDING MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES

Zika Virus is not a new virus – outbreaks have been detected in Africa and southeast Asia for decades – but only in recent years have scientists detected transmission elsewhere. The virus causes mild, flu-like symptoms – like low-grade fever, rash, fatigue and muscle pain – that last about a week. Zika virus can have devastating effects on pregnant women and their unborn children. Experts advise pregnant women to take precautions against mosquito bites because this illness has been linked to a dangerous birth defect called microcephaly, which is a sign of incomplete brain development. The Zika virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.

West Nile Virus is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Although only about one in five people who contract the virus develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches or vomiting, the virus can cause serious neurological illnesses that can be fatal, such as encephalitis or meningitis. Experts expect the virus to remain a domestic health concern for years to come.

Dengue Fever is primarily thought to be a tropical disease, but occasional cases have been detected in southern states, including Texas and Florida, in recent years. As many as 400 million people are infected with dengue fever in the tropics and subtropics annually. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache behind the eyes, rash and muscle pain.

Chikungunya Virus was previously only found in Africa and Asia and most recently in the Caribbean, but over the past few years it has been confirmed in several U.S. territories and states, including Texas and Florida. The painful Chikungunya (pronounced chik-en-gun-ye) virus causes fever, joint pain and swelling, headache or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The Chikungunya virus is highly uncomfortable but not deadly.