Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes

Late summer is the most common time of year for mosquito activity but they can breed and bite during all warm weather months.

How to protect yourself from mosquitoes

• Dusk and Dawn — Mosquitoes that can carry Zika are day biters and most active during dusk and dawn.
• Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants. For extra protection, treat clothing with permethrin.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Practice Safe Sex- Zika can be sexually transmitted so it is important to always use condoms.

How to protect your home from mosquitoes

• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside. Use your air conditioning, if you have it.
• Dump, turnover, drain or cover all containers that can hold standing water such as flowerpots, gutters, buckets, children's toys, pet dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths on a regular basis.
• Place screen on rain barrels or water collecting containers and use the water within a week.
• Report illegal dumping, abandoned swimming pools and water leaks by calling 311.

For more information view our factsheet.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides guidance to healthcare providers with frequent updates on proper procedures for managing Zika cases.  Click here to see the CDC's full listing of Zika guidance for healthcare providers.

Diagnostic Testing

Preliminary diagnosis is based on the patients clinical features, places and dates of travel and activities.  Zika testing should be performed if an indiviual meets the following criteria:

1. Is an asymptomatic or symptomatic pregnant woman who traveled to Zika affected area(s) or had sexual contact with someone who traveled.  Click here for a map of areas affected by Zika.
2. Traveled to or resided in an area with ongoing transmission of Zika virus and displays at least one symptom.
3. Did not travel but resides in either Orleans, St. Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemine or St. Tammany, Vermilion, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge and Ouchita Parishes and displays at least two symptoms.
4. Did not travel but resides in any other parishes listed above and displays at least 2 of the following symptoms: fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.

As an arboviral disease, Zika virus is a nationally notifiable condition. Healthcare providers are encouraged to report suspected cases to DHH to facilitate diagnosis and migate the risk of local transmission.

For OB/GYN's:

Pregnant women who have traveled to an area affected by Zika during pregnancy, or who have had unprotected sex with someone who lives in or traveled to an area with risk of Zika, should be evaluated for Zika virus infection, regardless of symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment involves supportive care; Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflamatory durgs (NSAIDs) should be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce risk of hemmorhage.

For more information view our factsheets:

• Healthcare Providers
• OB/GYN

Report any suspected cases to Louisiana Department of Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section at: Main line: (504)568-8313 After Hours: (800)256-2748

Zika binder:

A binder is available through the New Orleans Health Department with background and clinical guidance for Zika.  Below are links to the individual documents provided in the binder:

 Louisiana Specific Documents:

• Guidelines for Zika Virus Testing in Louisiana
• Instructions for Collecting and Shipping Zika Samples
• Lab test request form - Lab form 96
• Louisiana ID Epi Zika Virus Disease Supplemental Form
• Reportable Diseases List for Louisiana

Informational Documents:

• Basics of Zika Virus
• World Map of Areas With Ongoing Zika Transmission
• Counseling Pregnant Travelers
• Evaluation for Infants With Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection
• Roadmap for Babies with Congenital Zika
• Interpretation-of-Zika-Test-Results.pdfMeasuring Head Circumference

Clinical Documents:

• Interpretation of Zika Test results
• ICD-10 Codes for Zika

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) of Importance:

• Update: Interim Guidance for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection — United States, October 2017
• Vital Signs: Update on Zika Virus–Associated Birth Defects and Evaluation of All U.S. Infants with Congenital Zika Virus Exposure — U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry, 2016
• Zika Virus — 10 Public Health Achievements in 2016 and Future Priorities

 

 

Planning a Trip

If you are planning a trip to an area with ongoing Zika virus transmission, you should protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine to prevent you from becoming infected.

If you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. This includes all areas with documented or likely Zika virus transmission. Click here for a world map of areas with risk of Zika.  If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about travel plans.

If a pregnant woman must travel to one of these areas, she should be counseled to strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites and prevent sexual transmission of Zika during and after the trip.

Returning Travelers

Zika can be sexually transmitted so it is important to always use condoms. Wearing bugspray for two weeks after you return will help prevent the spread of Zika. 

If you have recently returned from an area with ongoing virus transmission

Even without symptoms, females should avoid sex or use condoms for 8 weeks, and males should avoid sex or use condoms for 6 months. Returning travelers should wait this long before attempting to conceive.

Pregnant women: Visit your doctor for follow up. Even if you do not have symptoms you can be screened for Zika virus infection. Pregnant women who have recently traveled to, or lived in, an area with risk of Zika, should be tested for Zika, regardless of symptoms.

Mosquito Protection Travel Tips

• Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Use Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below.  When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. ​
  • DEET
  • Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
  • IR3535
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone
• Use the following link to find an insect repellent that works best for you: EPA's search tool
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

View our factsheets below for more information:

• Travelers
• Visitors to New Orleans
   

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/index.html

For information on Zika virus and how it affects pregnant women, please visit the CDC's page above.

 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information

For a list of all Zika virus travel notices by region, please visit the CDC's page above.

In addition to Zika, mosquitoes can transmit other diseases.  Dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever are all viruses transmitted by the same mosquitoes as Zika, but none of these viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes in New Orleans or Louisiana.  West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus are both viruses transmitted by mosquitoes in New Orleans and Louisiana and can cause mild to severe illness.  For more information on these viruses, please click here.