Question: Should I be scared of Zika virus?

Stephanie Moon answered on 27 Apr 2016:

Hi FlowerGirl5!
No, I don’t think you should be scared of Zika virus! Usually the best way to not be afraid of something is to learn more about it. Zika virus is transmitted by some mosquitoes (not all mosquito species can carry it, and even then only females bite and can transmit viruses). It’s also not found in most parts of the U.S., and you can look on the internet for maps of where Zika is found. The best thing to do to keep from getting a virus like Zika is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing bug spray for example. You can also make sure that there isn’t any still water around outside your house (like in plant pots or puddles that don’t evaporate for awhile) because a lot of mosquitoes like to lay eggs in them. It’s also really unusual for people to get super sick from Zika- usually they will get a fever and a rash, but otherwise they will recover just fine. So, instead of being scared, I would learn as much as you can about it so you are informed!