CRESTVIEW — No one has gotten the Zika virus in Florida — including Okaloosa County — by being bitten by an infected mosquito.

The insect that could spread Zika, Aedes albopictus, is prevalent in Northwest Florida, but south Florida’s Aedes aegypti is most apt to transmit the virus.

Even if someone gets Zika, they probably don’t know it and, even if they do, they’ll be over it in a week to 10 days anyway.

Except for pregnant women, who, health authorities say, can pass on Zika to their fetuses, who might then have birth defects. If that should occur, a Zika outbreak, unlike West Nile, can be broken, especially if prompt action is taken.

KNOW THE FACTS

Being forewarned helps residents become forearmed when it comes to the Zika virus, local public health and county officials said during a recent community update at North Okaloosa Medical Center.

The hospital hosted a May 24 Zika discussion, which included Okaloosa County Public Health Director Dr. Karen Chapman, NOMC Infection Control specialist Lida Deonarine, March of Dimes Gulf Coast Region representative Dannon Byrd, Okaloosa County Public Works mosquito control coordinator Scott Henson, and Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris.

Chapman said while there have been Zika cases reported in Florida, including one in Santa Rosa County, all are from travelers who were infected outside the country.

However, the potential remains for mosquitoes to transmit the Zika virus by biting an infected person.

“The primary vector is not as common in our area, but it is possible,” Chapman said.

SYMPTOMS

Chapman said Zika’s symptoms are like dengue “but are much, much milder.” In fact, only one in five people with the Zika virus are symptomatic, she said.

“Without the birth component, Zika is very mild,” Chapman said.

But for pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant, Zika is a real concern. It is linked to babies being born with microcephaly, a condition in which their heads are abnormally small, often leading to other developmental issues.

However, if a woman becomes infected after giving birth, she can still breast feed.

“We’ve never seen Zika transmission through breast milk,” Chapman said.

Zika-carrying mosquitoes aren’t a woman’s sole source of Zika infection. An infected man can transmit the bug to her during unprotected sex.

“It lives for an extended period of time in semen,” Chapman said. “We have seen transmission beyond 21 days (of initial infection).”

SWATTING THE BUG

“Preventing ourselves from being bitten by a Zika-carrying mosquito prevents us from transmitting Zika to another mosquito,” which will bite someone else, Chapman said.

And the best way to do that is to drain standing water around the home, and cover the skin with long-sleeved clothing and repellent.

“It’s very important that each citizen empties water containers every two days,” Henson said.

Mosquitoes look for four or five places with standing water to lay their eggs, he said. Removing a breeding habitat dramatically reduces mosquito reproduction.

Because Northwest Florida’s Aedes albopictus mosquito is very territorial, it won’t travel far looking for a new water source if residents remove theirs, Chapman said.

But if they don’t, “more than likely the people you’re going to infect are your neighbors and your family,” Henson said.

COVER UP

“Aedes is an aggressive daytime biter,” Henson said, adding it is important to follow the health department’s advice to “cover your skin.”

The guidelines for fighting Zika-bearing mosquitoes apply equally to bugs carrying West Nile, dengue and chikungunya, Chapman said.

Long sleeves and pants when working outside are the first line of defense, followed by applying a repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535.

COORDINATED RESPONSE

Deonarine said NOMC has developed a patient screening protocol.

“We’ve been tasked with developing a screening tool at the door,” she said, so if a patient exhibits Zika-like symptoms, “our registration clerks, our ER triage nurse, one of the first things they do is screen for foreign travel … If there is a case, we can indentify it quickly and determine if testing is necessary.”

Several departments are cooperating to prevent an Okaloosa County Zika outbreak, officials said.

“For years we have worked with the county on mosquito control,” Chapman said. “A lot of that infrastructure is already in place. There is a lot of collaboration between hospitals, public health, mosquito control and emergency operations.”

“This collaboration is especially important,” Harris said. “We have a great relationship with hospitals, with the county and with all our care providers in Okaloosa County.”

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SYMPTOMS

The Zika virus was first identified in 1947. Most people who have Zika don’t know it. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

●Joint pain

●Fever

●Rash

●Red eyes (conjunctivitis)

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/CDC

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DRAIN AND COVER

The Florida Department of Health’s “Drain and Cover” campaign provides advice to protect against all mosquitoes, including those carrying Zika, dengue, West Nile and chikungunya.

DRAIN STANDING WATER

Drain: Garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots

Discard: Old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots, pans, broken appliances

Empty and clean: Bird baths, pets’ water bowls

Protect: Boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water

Maintain: The water balance (chemistry) of swimming pools. Empty and overturn plastic wading pools when not in use

COVER YOUR SKIN

Clothing: Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves

Repellent: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective. Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months.

Cover doors and windows with screens: Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches and patios

Source: Florida Department of Health

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ZIKA BY THE NUMBERS

122: Total Zika cases reported so far in Florida; all from travelers returning from Zika-infected countries

48: Zika cases in Miami-Dade County, the most of any Florida county

0: new Zika cases in Florida as of May 26

5: Remaining Florida Zika cases still exhibiting symptoms

1: Zika case previously reported in Santa Rosa County

0: Zika cases in Okaloosa and Walton County

0: Zika cases anywhere in Florida caused by mosquito bites

0: Zika cases anywhere in the United States caused by mosquito bites

Source: Florida Department of Health

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida officials offer tips to stay safe from Zika virus

NICEVILLE — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) will host a community meeting to discuss Florida Healthy Babies.

Florida Healthy Babies is a collaborative statewide initiative designed to positively influence social determinants of health and reduce racial disparities in infant mortality.

The meeting will take place at Crosspoint United Methodist Church in Niceville, Florida on June 6, 2016 at 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM.

“Infant mortality is an important indicator of the overall health of a community. Infant deaths reflect a communities focus on women’s and maternal health, access to quality medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and individual behaviors,” stated Dr. Karen A. Chapman, Director of DOH-Okaloosa. “The health disparities in infant mortality remain a serious problem in Okaloosa County, and we’ve seen little improvement in the last fifteen years. Working more collaboratively with community partners, we can bridge the gap and give all babies a chance at a happy and healthy life.”

Recently, the department invested $1.4 million in the Florida Healthy Babies initiative, which is an effort of the department’s Health Equity Program Council.

The Health Equity Program Council focuses on helping all Floridians achieve health equity. Part of the funding was provided to all 67 counties to conduct an enhanced data analysis of infant mortality and to host community-action planning meetings to address disparities in infant mortality.

What: Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County

Florida Healthy Babies Community Meeting

When: June 6, 2016, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Where: Crosspoint United Methodist Church

214 Partin Drive South

Niceville, Florida 32578

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Healthy Babies community meeting set June 6

Taylor Farms Florida, Inc., an Orlando, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 151 pounds of a chicken salad product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product may contain wheat and sesame ingredients, known allergens that are not declared on the mislabeled product label.

The ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken salad item was produced on May 23, 2016. The following product is subject to recall:

11-oz. (312-g) of individually packaged “Wawa thai style chicken mango salad with thai peanut flavored dressing” with a sell by date of 05/28/2016.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “Est. P-44818” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This item was shipped to Wawa convenience stores in Florida.

The problem was discovered on May 25, 2016, when the establishment notified FSIS personnel of the mislabeling issue affecting the salads. The salads have the correct label on the top of the package, but an incorrect back label saying “Wawa superfood salad.” Taylor Farms Florida, Inc. received notice from their customer. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume them. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify theircustomers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: This chicken mango salad may have unlabeled allergens

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County is observing Healthy and Safe Swimming Week for the last week of May.

Water-based physical activity has health benefits for everyone, but it does come with some risks.

Everyone plays a role in preventing illnesses and injuries linked to the water we use and enjoy. Every day in the United States, two children younger than 14 years of age die from drowning.

“Drowning is a leading cause of injury (or) death for children 1 to 4 years of age,” stated Dr. Karen A. Chapman, DOH director. “It’s important that you and your family take precautions before getting into the water to ensure a healthy and safe day at the beach or pool.”

The DOH recommends swimmers and parents of young swimmers do the following before getting into the water:

●Make sure everyone knows how to swim.

●Use life jackets appropriately.

●Check water visibility.

●Check to see if a lifeguard is on duty.

●Provide continuous and attentive supervision to swimmers.

●Protect against sunburn by using a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or higher.

●Know CPR and bring a first aid kit.

To protect swimmers’ health and safety, DOH-Okaloosa uses state and local standards to inspect public pools, hot tubs, spas, water playgrounds, and other places with treated water.

Though chlorine in public pools can kill most germs within minutes, some germs can survive for days. Health concerns can occur when dirt, sweat, urine, fecal matter, or blood from swimmers’ bodies mix with pool water.

It’s important that swimmers

●Stay out of the water if they have diarrhea

●Shower before getting in the water

●Don’t pee or poop in the water

●Don’t swallow the water

Parents should take kids on bathroom breaks, check diapers and change them in a bathroom or diaper changing area—not poolside—to keep germs away from the pool.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa health department offers swimming safety tips