The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a case of Zika virus on Oahu, marking the first detection of the virus on the island since 2019.
Local health officials have reported that this case is travel-related, indicating that the virus was imported into Hawaii by a visitor.
In addition to the confirmed case, there are two other suspected exposures to the virus, prompting immediate action from the DOH.
Vector control teams are currently responding to the situation and are conducting operations in areas where the individual spent time, particularly in the neighborhoods of Waialua and Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu.
The DOH is urging the public to assist in efforts to minimize the spread of the virus by taking proactive steps.
Residents, businesses, and visitors are encouraged to adopt various preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
Key recommendations from the DOH include applying insect repellent on exposed skin when outdoors.
They emphasize using EPA-registered products that contain 20 percent to 30 percent DEET, along with other effective ingredients like picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535.
To help the public choose the right repellent, the DOH advises visiting the EPA’s website for more information.
Additionally, individuals should wear loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and pants to limit skin exposure outdoors.
Another crucial recommendation is to keep homes and businesses free from mosquitoes by ensuring that window and door screens are intact and doors remain shut.
Residents should also remove standing water from around properties, which can serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes.
This includes checking for water in buckets, flower pots, and discarded tires, as well as in plants such as bromeliads.
Symptoms of Zika virus are typically mild, including fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain.
According to the DOH, symptoms generally last from a few days to a week, and about 80 percent of infections are asymptomatic.
While hospitalization and death due to Zika are uncommon, the virus can cause severe complications, especially in pregnant individuals.
Zika infection during pregnancy has been linked to serious birth defects and complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth.
Zika primarily spreads from an infected person to a mosquito, and then to another person.
Although Hawaii has the mosquito species capable of transmitting Zika, the DOH states that the virus is not established in the state.
Between 2015 and 2019, there was a notable number of travel-associated Zika cases in Hawaii, with a peak of 25 cases in 2017, but no locally transmitted cases have ever been recorded in the state.
Travelers are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites during their trips and for three weeks after returning home.
The DOH recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms within two weeks of returning from a Zika-affected area consult their healthcare provider and inform them of potential exposure.
Testing for Zika is not routinely recommended for travelers who do not exhibit symptoms.
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