Markell declares Monday “Zika Awareness Day”

Gov. Jack Markell has declared this upcoming Monday Zika Awareness Day in Delaware.

The day is designed to remind people that preventing mosquito bites is the best protection against Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses.

While there has been no mosquito transmission of Zika in the continental united states to date local transmission is possible.

That’s why taking precaution is important. The most common symptoms of Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.

There have also been reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly in cases where a mother transmits the virus to a child in the womb.