bloggreengirl asked: Is Zika really a threat to the US? IS there a way to prevent it from spreading?
Yes. There are over 20,000 cases of Zika in the United States and territories (including Puerto Rico). We have already seen babies born with birth defects due to Zika. In order to prevent continued spread of the virus, it is important that everyone understands the steps they can take to protect themselves: 1) pregnant women should avoid traveling to areas where Zika is spreading. 2) if your partner is pregnant and you travel to an area with Zika, you should avoid having unprotected sex for the duration of the pregnancy, 3) if you or your partner are thinking about getting pregnant and you must travel to an area with Zika, you should talk to your doctor about when it is safe for you to have unprotected sex, and 4) everyone should take steps to prevent mosquito bites by wearing repellant, staying in air conditioned spaces when possible, and wearing long sleeves and long pants. For more information on how to prevent Zika, go to cdc.gov/Zika #AnswerTime
