Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya

Background

The Zika virus is spread primarily through the Aedes species of mosquito. This is the same species of mosquito that spreads the dengue and chikungunya viruses. The mosquito bites an infected person and subsequently spreads the virus to other people by biting them. There are current outbreaks of Zika and Chikungunya virus in parts of South and Central America. Chikungunya has also been reported in the Caribbean. Dengue virus is widely found throughout the world’s warmer climates.

Prevention

Aedes mosquitos bite most aggressively during the daytime. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization suggest a number of preventive measures which include:

• Eliminate or avoid obvious mosquito breeding areas (e.g. standing, stagnant pools of water) where you work or live
• Use window screens to prevent mosquito entry into buildings or homes
• Reduce the risk of mosquito bites through use of insect repellents and long-sleeved clothing

It is just as important that infected persons avoid mosquitos to help disrupt the transmission cycle.

Please refer to the websites below, from the US CDC and the WHO for the most current information and prevention recommendations for these viruses.

There are many insect repellents available on the market that may be of use – for instance, 3M offers Ultrathon™ Insect Repellent containing DEET, a repellent compound specifically recommended by the US CDC for use against the Aedes mosquito. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and US CDC recommendations for proper application of insect repellent. 3M also offers a full line of protective apparel that may help prevent contact with mosquitos for outdoor workers. As with all protective clothing use, please consider the risk of heat stress when selecting garments. Links to additional information are below.

Resources

Information from the CDC and WHO

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/

http://www.cdc.gov/Chikungunya/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/protect_yourself_from_mosquito_bites.pdf

3M™ Ultrathon™ Insect Repellent:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Ultrathon/Products/

3M Protective Apparel Solutions:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-PPE-Safety-Solutions/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Products/Product-Catalog/~/Protective-Apparel?N=5022681+8690968+3294529207&rt=r3

3M Technical Data Bulletin

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1180493O/zika-virus-tdb-240.pdf