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Mosquito Control - Main Office
 
Hours
Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 5:00pm
 
Phone
(407) 742-0505
 
Address
1 Courthouse Square,
Suite 3100
Kissimmee, FL 34741

Zika Prevention

History of Zika

Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Zika outbreaks have probably occurred in many locations. Before 2007, at least 14 cases of Zika had been documented, although other cases were likely to have occurred and were not reported. Because the symptoms of Zika are similar to those of many other diseases, many cases may not have been recognized.

How Zika spreads

Zika can be transmitted through:

How to prevent Zika

There is no vaccine to prevent Zika. The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Here’s how:

Clothing

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
  • Treat your clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pre-treated items.

Insect repellent

  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
    DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol. Always follow the product label instructions.
  • When used as directed, these insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.

At home

  • Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
  • Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.
  • Mosquito netting can be used to cover babies younger than 2 months old in carriers, strollers, or cribs.
  • Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.

Sexual transmission

  • Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex.

Videos

Zika Virus 101 - English
Sep 1, 2016

The Zika virus is another wild card dealt to us by nature. It was first discovered in 1947, but only recently grew into one of the newest global health threats, primarily for pregnant women and their unborn children.

Zika Virus 101 - Spanish
Sep 1, 2016

El virus del Zika es otra sorpresa que nos da la naturaleza. Fue descubierto en 1947, pero no fue sino hasta hace poco que se convirtió en una de las más recientes amenazas globales para la salud, principalmente para las mujeres embarazadas y sus bebés en gestación.

Mosquito Safety
Aug 31, 2016

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), common symptoms of Zika include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis.