By now everybody will have heard of Zika Virus and many people living in Tropical North Queensland might be scared. So let's have a look at what it is and what it means for residents and visitors to this area.

Zika Virus is related to Dengue Virus. Transmission is via mosquitos, more precisely a mosquito named Aedes Aegypti (which lives in tropical and subtropical Queensland) and Aedes Albopticus (which so far has been found in Torres Strait).

These mosquitos live in any water holding containers around the house, carports and sheds. They bite during the day and will happily do this outdoors and indoors.

So far there have been only a small number of reported cases in Australia – mostly in people who have returned from overseas countries with known outbreaks. If you want to check which countries are deemed as at risk or are currently suffering from outbreaks you can go to the website from "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" at Australian Governement Department of Healthhealth for up to date information.

Only 1 in 5 infected people will likely get symptoms. The problem is that the Zika Virus shares its symptoms with a lot of other tropical diseases (such as Dengue) and is mostly a mild disease that spontaneously resolves after 4 to 7 days. Symptoms are typically a mild fever, rash, sore joints and muscles, headaches behind the eyes. For most people there is no specific treatment required other than rest, good hydration and simple painkillers as needed.

However, there is a possible association with severe deformities in newborns if a pregnant woman gets infected and this has obviously drawn a lot of attention and makes this virus currently stand out. Studies are underway to explore this risk further.

So, what should you do to prevent Zika Virus spread?

In a way everything is already in place up here in Tropical North Queensland to prevent spreading and outbreak control. Public awareness campaigns for Dengue Fever are established and the advice to tip out all water holding containers around your property to avoid Aedes Aegypti mosquitos to breed will also help so that Zika Virus can't spread.

If you plan to go overseas check if you intend to travel in an at risk area, consider if you still want to do this and if yes take all precautions not to get bitten. This applies even more so if you are pregnant. Remember, Zika Virus is only one possible disease you can contract which could potentially harm your baby, so don't just focus on Zika Virus now. The list of infectious diseases is long.

And what if I have symptoms that could be Zika Virus?

Zika Virus (same as Dengue) is a notifiable disease. So therefore it is important that it firstly gets diagnosed properly. For this your GP will need to take a blood test and send it to a special place to check whether or not it is Zika Virus.

It is important to tell your doctor if you have been overseas the two weeks before onset of symptoms. It will take a couple of days before the result will come back. Meanwhile, your GP will already report the suspicion of Zika Virus infection to the Public Health Department. A Public Health Officer will contact you and help you to put all measures in place to prevent spreading and to check for possible breeding places for Aedes Aegypti mosquitos.

While you are sick it is important to stay home and use mozzie coils and use insect repellant to minimise the risk that any Aedes Aegypti mozzie will feed on you and subsequently infect others.

Need more information?

Talk to your GP or visit the following websites:

Australian Government Department of Health
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention