News headlines have buzzed with warnings about Zika virus ever since the Brazil outbreak last year.
According to the CDC, the virus is spread primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
The symptoms are usually fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Early data shows serious complications are caused by infection during pregnancy. While reports in our area remain low, protecting the whole family from mosquito bites is always a great idea. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Summer Safety Campaign has a few tips for using insect repellent effectively:
- Check labels on repellent to make sure it’s safe for kids
- Apply to bare skin only
- Apply sunscreen first, then repellent
- Spray on your hands first—then apply to face, avoiding mouth, nose, eyes and irritated skin
- Reapply as needed
Details: cdc.gov/travel; choa.org/summersafety
