Zika in India - 8 essential tips to prevent Zika

Zika in India - 8 essential tips to prevent Zika The WHO has just declared Zika as a public health concern on an international level. Affected states in the US have also urged women to delay pregnancy as currently there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease. The only option left is to prevent the spread of the disease. Zika is a vector-borne disease which spreads through an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. So one of the major ways to prevent the spread of the disease is to prevent mosquito bites. Dr Sandeep Sonawane, Consultant Physician, Sunshine Hospital, Nerul, shares some tips.Prevent mosquito breeding Prevent mosquito breeding--Don't let water accumulate anywhere. If you have stored water for a long time, empty the container. Also empty old tyres, flower pots and buckets if they contain water. Mosquitoes breed in water and hence the best way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding is to avoid water accumulation. However, if you must store water, make sure the containers are completely covered. Also, cover dustbins and trash cans when not in use.Wear clothes with full sleevs Wear clothes that cover your entire body--Wear full sleeved shirts or t-shirts, and full-length trousers to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Make sure none of your body part is exposed.Apply mosquito repellents on your body Use mosquito repellents--Different types of mosquito repellents are available in market. Use it generously during the day as well as night. You can also use natural insect repellents like neem or eucalyptus oil to prevent mosquito bites.Insect repellents on clothes Spray mosquito repellents on clothes--Apart from applying a mosquito repellent on your body, spray it on your clothes to prevent the mosquitoes from hovering around you.Use mosquito nets Use mosquito nets for sleeping--Cover your bed with mosquito nets and sleep under them. Use mosquito nets for babies too, especially when they sleep during the day. Remember, zika infected mosquitoes can also bite during day.Cover your doors and windows Cover your doors and windows--Use a net to cover your door and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your house. Also, ensure that the screens do not have any holes in them. You can also keep doors and windows shut most of the time.Avoid travelling to Zika affected countries Avoid travelling to zika affected countries--Zika is highly prevalent in America and is expected to spread to India soon. And the only way it can spread to India is if someone travels to and from the affected countries. The government should make screening at airports and seaport mandatory and also test and quarantine any person showing symptoms of zika.Delay pregnancy Delay pregnancy--Zika can be transferred from a pregnant mother to the child via the placenta. It is also believed that babies born to mothers suffering from zika are more likely to suffer from a condition called microcephaly (small brain) which is almost fatal. According to reports, over 4000 babies in Brazil were born with microcephaly since October 2015. Countries like Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have already asked women to delay pregnancies.