Kane Co. Health Dept. working with partners to prepare for Zika virus
By now everybody has heard of the Zika virus, its spread in Central and South America, and how it is contracted mostly through the bite of a mosquito. Though mosquito season is still months away, the Kane County Health Department has begun to plan in the event they start to see the disease spreading in the area.
The health department has begun regular meetings with its partners to prepare. This includes conference calls with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health, local hospitals and medical providers, as well as meetings with our Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium partners.
The health department has established a dedicated Zika virus web page, www.kanehealth.com/zika.htm, with links to the CDC and IDPH pages that are automatically updated.
On a Feb. 16 conference call, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., updated the statewide case count to a total of four. All four cases contracted the illness during travel in Central or South America. Dr. Shah further indicated that the mosquitoes known to carry the disease, the Aedes species, are rarely found in Illinois, their eggs cannot survive the winters here. Because of this Dr. Shah said right now it is believed there is a low risk of significant spread of the illness in Illinois.
The concern now is for travelers and for pregnant women and those women who plan to become pregnant. The latest guidance from the CDC says that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus is spreading. You can learn more about where the disease is circulating at www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/americas.html.
If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip. The Zika virus may be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and it has been reported to be transmitted through sexual contact. People planning spring break trips to the affected areas should follow mosquito bite prevention precautions, such as using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms or rooms with intact screens.
Common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don't get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika.
Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, the health department encourages all residents to regularly check health and travel advisories on the website Zika page, or from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Illinois Department of Public Health.