Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/701910
torrancememorial.org PULSE | 17 A S K T H E D O C M osquito-borne illnesses were at one time viewed as only a problem if you lived in the tropics or Africa. Now with the prevalence of international travel, many of these diseases are spreading to new areas of the world and infecting more people. Pulse recently spoke with internist and infectious disease specialist Eric Milefchik, MD, to get the latest on mosquito-borne diseases—from the risks to prevention strategies—to learn more about how to protect ourselves and our families. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD THE SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY BE ABOUT MOSQUITO- BORNE DISEASES? We're hearing a lot in the news about mosquito- borne illnesses and the threats they cause but first, we have to put this information in perspective. e Zika virus comes on the heels of the Dengue and Chikungunya viruses. Zika is generally a mild illness in the average person. Only 20% of the people who become infected with the Zika virus have signs and symptoms or know that they have it. e population at the biggest risk regarding Zika is pregnant women. Many times individuals don't know they have the virus. e concern regarding pregnant women is the neurological damage Zika appears to cause in their unborn children. HOW DO PEOPLE BECOME INFECTED? People become infected primarily by being bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito. ere also have been cases of sexual transmission. And as people engage in global travel, it provides more opportunities for the spread of infectious diseases and for the spread of the insects that carry them. One type of mosquito is thought to have entered the U.S. via the tire trade. Researchers found that mosquitoes hid in the water-holding portion of used tires that were imported from Asia. ARE THE TYPES OF MOSQUITOES THAT CAUSE THE ZIKA, DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUSES INDIGENOUS TO THE SOUTH BAY? e mosquitoes that cause Zika, Dengue and Chikunguna viruses are known as the Aedes species. e specific type of Aedes mosquito that causes Zika has been found in LA county. is raises the potential for Zika to spread here. However, the good news for the South Bay is that our climate is not a good one for the life cycle of the mosquito that causes Zika. Currently this mosquito does not reproduce well here due to our weather. And since there aren't enough of them here, it makes it difficult for the mosquito population to grow in number and infect people. e cases we have seen here are of people who have traveled to areas where these illnesses are indigenous—they were bitten by disease-carrying mosquitoes in other locations and either became sick while they were there or upon their return home in the U.S. WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF THESE ILLNESSES? e symptoms generally have an abrupt onset and are usually headache, fever, rash, muscle aches (myalgias) and joint pain (arthralgia). e rashes and joint pain can be variable from person to person. Also there is some variation with the symptoms between these three viruses. e incubation period for these diseases is fairly short, from two to 14 days, with the average being about one week—from the time someone is infected, to the time they feel ill. WHAT ARE THE GENERAL DURATIONS OF THESE ILLNESSES AND THE PROGNOSIS IF INFECTED? For most people, symptoms usually resolve in approximately one week. With Chikungunya, however, some people can have joint pain for as long as one month or more. WHAT TYPE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT SHOULD SOMEONE EXPECT TO RECEIVE IF THEY BECOME INFECTED WITH ONE OF THESE VIRUSES? e focus of medical treatment is supportive: to provide comfort and reduce the severity of symptoms. WEST NILE VIRUS HAS BEEN IN THE SOUTH BAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE ABOUT THIS VIRUS? e number of West Nile Virus cases has risen. e Culex species of mosquito causes West Nile virus and it is endemic here. So it's important to avoid getting mosquito bites. ese mosquitoes generally bite in the evening. WHAT CAN SOUTH BAY RESIDENTS DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHILE AT HOME AND TRAVELING? It's best to wear loose fitting clothing, long sleeves and pants. If you're travelling to an area where these viruses are endemic, use approved topical agents on your skin and clothes. The CDC has a list of recommended EPA-approved products that can be found at: cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/ fs_mtosquito_bite_prevention_us.pdf. Other helpful mosquito control measures are to avoid having standing water outside and in your home, and ensuring all doors and windows have screens that are in well repair. BITTEN WRITTEN BY CAROLE JAKUCS, BSN, RN, PHN THE RISK OF CONTRACTING A MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE IS INCREASING; HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.