Mosquito-borne West Nile virus, not Zika, should concern Iowans

DES MOINES - Iowa public health officials worked Monday to create some buzz about mosquito-borne illnesses with the onset of warmer weather and summertime outdoor activities.

While the threat of Zika virus gets a lot of attention, Gerd Clabaugh, director of the state Department of Public Health, said Iowans are much more at risk of contracting the sometimes-deadly West Nile virus that being exposed to Zika-related problems occurring in southern climes.

Clabaugh and Dr. Ann Garvey, deputy state epidemiologist, joined Gov. Terry Branstad at his weekly news conference Monday to urge Iowans to remember to protect themselves against mosquito bites this summer.

'The greatest risk to Iowans for Zika virus is when (Iowans) travel to areas of the world where Zika transmission is ongoing - for example, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America,” Garvey noted. 'It is especially important for pregnant women with plans to travel to these areas to reconsider their plans or take protective action while there.”

Zika causes certain birth defects in babies, which is why pregnant women should reconsider travel to Zika-affected areas, Garvey added. Also, since Zika can be sexually transmitted, women who are pregnant or who are considering pregnancy should take appropriate precautions and be aware if their partner has traveled to a Zika-affected area, she said.

Since mosquitoes known to transmit Zika are not native to Iowa, Clabaugh said, the risk of transmission in Iowa is extremely low. Since surveillance began early this year, seven cases - four women and three men - of Zika virus have been confirmed in the nearly 200 Iowans who have been tested and all of the cases involved travel to areas outside the United States where Zika transmission is occurring.

Contracting West Nile virus is a different story in Iowa, however, health officials said, with between five and 44 reported cases occurring in Iowa annually since 2005. West Nile first appeared in Iowa in 2002. The virus since has been found in all 99 counties, either in humans, horses or birds, the health department said.

About 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms including fever, headache, body aches and vomiting, officials said. Less than 1 percent of people infected become seriously ill. The last death in Iowa attributed to West Nile virus occurred in 2010, health officials said Monday.

The best way to prevent West Nile, according to health officials, is to eliminate mosquito breeding areas, including standing water in buckets, cans and pool covers, and to use insect repellent when outdoors.

Using an insect repellent containing DEET provides protection against mosquitoes and ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, Garvey said. Iowans also are advised to wear long sleeves and long pants when possible when outdoors and to avoid being outside around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes bite.

To learn about West Nile virus, see https://idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus. For more information about Zika virus, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/ehi/zika