Zika virus…coming to a beach near you? Photo: Unsplash/ Joe Cook.
The first case of the Zika virus in Los Angeles was confirmed as of last week. A young girl from the Los Angeles area was diagnosed with the virus. Officials believe she contracted the virus during a recent trip to El Salvador. Although this case has been identified, the Zika virus is not contagious, and it is not believed that Zika carrying mosquitos have made their way into the United States yet.
The mosquito-borne illness has been running rampant across South and Central America. While the spread is causing a fair amount of panic, the disease’s effects are generally mild. Most people do not experience symptoms, and those who do suffer only a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
The most concerning aspect of Zika, is that the virus has been linked to microcephaly in newborns. It appears that Zika can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, resulting in the infant’s incomplete brain development and abnormally small head. Because of this correlation, pregnant women have been advised to cease travel to areas known to host the virus. New cases have also given rise to the idea that Zika may be transmitted through sexual intercourse. This theory has not yet been confirmed, and the evidence is very slim. However, if it proves true, the spread of Zika could be more serious than previously assumed.
Officials remain firm that the disease’s main vector is the mosquito, and it is the pest that needs to be controlled first and foremost. The species of mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, is not native to Los Angeles; it is more densely populated in the Southeastern United States. However, the species has recently been reported in 12 California counties. As early as 2011, an infestation began in Los Angeles County. Starting in the San Gabriel Valley, the mosquitos soon spread into Silver Lake, Riverside, and Montclair. They’ve also been found in Mission Viejo, Anaheim, Pico Rivera, and Montebello. The World Health Organization, WHO, recently stated that Zika cases will likely be contracted in the United States soon. Should the virus carrying mosquitos make their way north into these areas, a Los Angeles outbreak could be possible.
For those traveling abroad and those cautious at home, the best way to avoid contracting Zika is to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. Use bug spray, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Clear out stagnant water, even in pockets as small as cracks in cement or empty flower pots, as the mosquitos can use these spaces to breed.
