http://tiny.cc/uqc2tx How to survive any disease
Zika virus - Questions and answers with Dr Sonya Bennett Executive Director, Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health Transmission Q. Can Zika virus only be transmitted from a mosquito with the virus? A. The main way that you can get Zika virus is really through the bite of an infected mosquito, where we know Zika virus is circulating in affected countries. There have been a few reports of where Zika virus has been transmitted from one person to another through sexual activity. There are only a small number of cases, but we do provide advice to people who have had Zika virus as to what they need to do to prevent that happening. Q. Where are the main areas of risk in Australia? A. It's important to note that Zika virus isn't actually present in Australia. What is present though is Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can transmit Zika virus if it is brought into Australia from an infected traveller and that mosquito is present, primarily in north Queensland, where we do see outbreaks of dengue virus from time to time and typically every year. The mosquito also exists further south than north Queensland, but we don't often see outbreaks of dengue, even though the mosquito is present and that's because it's only present in small numbers and not large enough numbers to transmit Zika virus locally. Q. If I don't live in one of the affected areas and I'm not travelling, does mean I am perfectly safe? A. It's important to note that we don't have any affected areas here in Australia and that Zika virus isn't present in Australia. So if you live in Australia and you're not travelling, then you are perfectly safe. There is a chance, at some point, we may see local transmission of Zika virus in north Queensland for a period of time and if that occurs, then the local public health units will be communicating the message to the community about what they need to do with respect to protecting themselves. For more information: www.health.qld.gov.au/zika
