Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      AF continues to monitor Zika, infected mosquitoes could hit US this summerPublished June 4, 2016
                    
                    By Prerana Korpe
                    
                    
                    Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
            **FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) --**As the threat of infected mosquitoes reaching the U.S. climbs, the Air Force continues to closely monitor the emergence of Zika virus infections to help inform and protect Airmen and their families. 
The World Health Organization declared Feb. 1 that the Zika virus is a public health emergency of international concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all at-risk communities should prepare for possible Zika activity. 
Col. (Dr.) John Oh, the Air Force Medical Support Agency’s chief of preventative medicine, explains that Zika is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Unlike other mosquitoes, Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive day biters but can also bite at night. 
Almost all cases of Zika virus infection within the U.S. have come as a result of a mosquito vector obtained through living and traveling in Zika-infected areas, the colonel said. 
“The number of countries and territories with Zika transmitted locally is growing. There are over 45 now, including countries in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa,” he said. 
It is also possible for the Zika virus to be sexually transmitted from males to females. Thus far, there have been no reported sexual transmissions from female to male. 
“The symptoms of Zika virus infection are similar to dengue, another mosquito born infection, and include fever, skin rashes, headaches and joint pain,” Oh said. “However, unlike dengue, Zika symptoms are usually mild, and many infected people don’t have any symptoms.
“Evidence now supports that there is a risk of birth defects from Zika virus,” he continued. “There is enough evidence that it is causal; however, there is still a lot we don’t know about birth defects and Zika. Eighty percent of cases are asymptomatic.” 
The colonel advises pregnant women to take every precaution to prevent mosquito bites, especially in the first trimester. 
In response, the Air Force has developed policy guidance for relocation of pregnant Air Force members and dependents from outside the continental U.S., in areas where there is active transmission of the virus. 
“When considering this policy, we really encourage pregnant women to consult with their health care providers,” Oh said. “Health care providers can help to assess individual risk of Zika infection, factoring in the home environment, for a shared decision between patients and their providers.” 
He also encourages pregnant women diagnosed with Zika to enroll in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry. The registry follows those enrolled and data collected helps improve prevention of Zika virus infection during pregnancy and updates clinical care recommendations. 
"Everyone can help prevent Zika by getting rid of standing water where the mosquito vector can breed.  We all need to pay careful attention to our surroundings,” Oh said. 
According to the Air Force Integrated Mosquito Management publication, any container that holds water for five to seven days can breed mosquitoes.
Breeding areas include:
- Discarded cans and plastic containers
- Glass bottles or any broken bottles
- Tires and tarps
- Obstructed roof gutters
- Plant pot saucers
- Holes in unused construction blocks or bricks
- Pipes
- Barrels (Rain barrels or other storm-water collection containers should be treated with mosquito larvicides or mosquito fish to prevent mosquito development)
Outdoor equipment tips:
- Bird baths should be drained and re-filled at least weekly
- Pet food and water bowls should be emptied and filled daily
- Flower pots with bases that hold water should have excess water drained if left outdoors
- Yard equipment should be stored so as not to collect water 
Features of Aedes mosquitoes:
- Lives outdoors, but comes indoors
- Egg to larva to adult in one week or less
- May lay eggs indoors
- Rests in low, shaded areas such as under tables and chairs
- Silent flier, with no buzzing
Protection:
- Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellant, according to product label
- Treat clothing with permethrin insecticide
- Stay inside air-conditioned or screened buildings
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Empty containers of water weekly
Any beneficiary who has a question about travel health or Zika is encouraged to visit public health, even before a planned trip.Air Force Medical Service 



Air Force Medicine 



Zika virus 



public health 



Zika 



virus 



health Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                Kendall, Allvin, Saltzman urge modernization while warning Senate of delayed budgets
                    
                    Readout of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel to the Philippines
                    
                    Air Force senior leaders visit Eielson AFB
                    
                    Air Force leaders focus on ACE during Kadena AB visit
                    
                    USAF senior leaders visit Mariana Islands on ACE tripInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand
                    
                    Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil