Protecting yourself from ZIK V

The Ministry of Health has put the country on high alert and launched a public awareness campaign to get Jamaicans up to speed on the viral-born illness spread by the zika virus (ZIKV).

It has advised that in Jamaica, the Aedes aegypti is the only mosquito which can spread this disease, which usually happens when it stings someone infected with ZIKV and becomes a carrier and then stings anyone else.

This is the same mosquito which also transmits the dengue and chikungunya

viruses.

Mosquitoes breed in any container where water is allowed to settle, with the most common breeding sites being drums, tyres, flowerpots and various other containers found in and around homes, schools, workplaces and communities.

The life span of the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito is two week to a month and the female produces an average of 100 or 200 eggs per batch, which can survive for very long periods in a dry state, often for more than a year.

The fact that it is active any time and will attack during the night or day, makes the Aedes aegypti particularly dangerous.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to prevent zika fever (zika virus infection), hence the importance of reducing or eliminating mosquito-breeding sites. In addition, there is no specific medication for treating the illness either, but there is medication which can be taken to reduce the fever, pain and other symptoms.

However, the health ministry advises that only Paracetamol (acetaminophen) should be taken for pain or fever.