FMLink gathers Zika virus resources for FMs

by Brianna Crandall — March 2, 2016—In light of growing concerns about the Zika virus and its potential complications, FMLink has examined government and private resources to inform facilities managers about the virus and to help them determine how concerned they need to be about the illness, and what role they can play in helping to prevent its spread.

Zika virus and its complications

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Zika is a virus that primarily spreads to humans through mosquito bites of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species, the same types of mosquito that spread the traditionally more serious illnesses of dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Although individuals infected with the Zika virus normally experience mild symptoms of a slight fever and rash, and possible conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, the recent level of concern is due to the apparent connection between a Zika outbreak in Brazil and an extreme jump in the number of cases of microcephaly in newborns in the same region.

Microcephaly is a serious condition in which a newborn’s head is significantly smaller than usual, often due to abnormal brain development. There has also been a possible correlation with a greater occurrence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system.

There is currently no vaccination to prevent Zika virus, and no medicine has been developed to treat it.

Geographical incidence

Although the virus has appeared in various parts of Asia and Africa in previous years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) says the areas with active Zika virus transmission are currently in tropical regions of Central and South America and the Caribbean, so the CDC has issued travel warnings for these areas, particularly for pregnant women.

The mosquitoes in question do live in some of the warmer areas of the United States, so there is some possibility of cases appearing as the warm summer months arrive, but so far all of the cases in the United States have been travel-related. According to an article in Vox Science and Health, U.S. officials have said that the virus is likely to cause only small outbreaks in this country.

Prevention

Since the virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites, and less frequently from mother to fetus or from an infected man through sexual contact, the main way to prevent the illness is to avoid mosquito bites (as well as avoid sexual contact with infected men).

So, unlike the multitude of illnesses that can spread by casual interaction with infected persons or by breathing airborne germs or by contact with germ-laden surfaces, extra efforts by facilities managers to sanitize and disinfect indoor surfaces will not necessarily prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

According to the Vox Science and Health article, which quotes CDC researcher Janet McAllister, residences and businesses in areas with Zika virus need to keep outdoor areas clean, with grass mowed and bushes trimmed for good air flow. Debris should be removed, and anything stored outside should be positioned so that it does not collect water, since the Aedes mosquito tends to rest and breed in small pools of water and moist environments.

The CDC site contains information on and photos illustrating mosquitoes’ main aquatic habitats, which include natural containers such as rain-filled cavities in trees, bamboo internodes and leaf-axils of plants, and manmade containers that are filled with rain water, such as tires, damaged and discarded appliances and containers, trash cans, painting trays, toys, plant pots, pools, leaking water meters, and broken or unsealed septic tanks.

What can FMs do?

Facilities management staff in areas affected by the Zika virus are advised to prevent mosquitoes from congregating and breeding by taking steps to eliminate the water-collecting items listed above in order to keep their properties inhospitable to the carriers. Windows and doors should also have screens or be solid with no holes, to prevent mosquito entry.

The Vox article, which also quotes Dr. Jose Luis San Martin, a Pan American Health Organization adviser, recommends widespread eradication programs, which had previously wiped out mosquitoes from much of the Western Hemisphere, but were not maintained.

The article suggests using integrated pest management utilizing multiple tactics and tools to address the control of mosquitoes, including launching public education campaigns, treating certain bodies of water with larvicide, organizing neighborhood and regional campaigns to clean up yards and work sites, and instituting tire pickup programs.

Experts from pest control provider Orkin sum up their view by saying, “Prepare, but don’t panic.” The company, which collaborates with the CDC to protect public health, adds these tips:

Eliminate Entry Points

  • Use air-conditioning when possible.
  • Close gaps around windows and in walls.
  • Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.

Remove Their Habitat

  • Remove standing water from gutters, buckets and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just a few inches of standing water
  • Change water weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water
  • Keep pool water treated and circulating
Suggested resources

For FMs who would like to learn more about the Zika virus and prevention measures they can take, FMLink suggests the following resources: