<span style="font-weight: 400;">I am happy to report a recent decrease in the shear panic caused by the awful impacts of the Zika virus in recent months.  Now the epidemiologists, public health officials, and other scientists turn their attention to identifying the conditions that caused the devastating spike in microcephaly seen in several countries including Brazil.  Overwhelmingly, news posts, magazine articles, broadcasts, and social media networks have attributed the jump in cases of infants born with microcephaly to the Zika virus and infected </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aedes</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> mosquitoes .  But, many scientists are still looking for all the causes and I am anxious to hear the answers.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We do know that the Zika virus has existed for a long time.  Typical infections cause mild symptoms, so mild, in fact, that most people don’t even notice. We, also, know that the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aedes </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">mosquito, the only mosquito to carry the virus, thrives in warm and moist climates year round such as tropical or subtropical regions.  To date in the U.S., no known cases of microcephaly have reported links to the Zika virus, nor has the Zika virus infected any U.S. resident or visitor who did not contract it by traveling abroad. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I stress these facts to stave off the panic that inevitably comes with initial news of a potentially dangerous disease.  I want to point out that the Midwest - where Midwest Pesticide Action Center resides and engages many concerned citizens - is neither tropical nor subtropical. We have yet to find a single Zika infected mosquito here and we will unlikely ever find one, especially in the more northern parts. Regardless of these facts, I fear people will respond to this perceived threat by spraying more insecticides causing unintended consequences for human health and the environment.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A network of Mosquito Abatement Districts, municipal mosquito abatement programs, park districts, and forest preserves already serve, if not over serve, the region.  Although we may disagree with some of their methods and decisions to use mosquito fogging, a host of professionals are monitoring the mosquito populations and looking for transmission pathways for the Zika and other potential viruses to humans. Reports will spread like wildfire at any detection of an </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aedes aegypti</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> mosquito carrying Zika virus. Until then, the current systems of controls are up and running.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Find more information about proper methods for mosquito control at the </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">World Health Organization</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.  Both recommend a comprehensive mosquito control program and indicate that fogging insecticides provides the least effective and most expensive control.  The </span><a href="http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Effective_Mosquito_Management_Guide-web.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Xerces Society</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has comprehensive information on creating a mosquito management plan for communities that’s also pollinator friendly.  And, </span><a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Complete-Mosquito-Factsheet-Update.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Midwest Pesticide Action Center</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> provides some basic control tips you can take yourself.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The word panic comes from the name of the Greek god Pan, noted for causing groundless fear and loud woodland noises. Let’s not get distracted by the noise but focus on reality.  Let’s wait for the scientists to find out the full story regarding this devastating outbreak.  Already they are </span><a href="http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/articles/rumours/en/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dispelling myths and rumors</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Let’s focus on what we can do to reduce the populations of the more common </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Culex </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and other mosquitos found in the Midwest:  empty pools of standing water like bird baths, flower pots, and swimming pools; decrease the density of bushy vegetation by thinning or elimination; stay in at dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active; and wear long pants and sleeves to prevent bites.  These actions and activities truly protect us from harm with the least impact on the environment. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Our hearts go out to all the children and families affected by microcephaly and we support all effective and well planned efforts to prevent it from happening again.  Let’s not add insult to injury by upping the use of harmful insecticides for no reason, while distracting us from the task at hand.</span>