UGA Professor Agrees Zika Can Be Acquired Locally

Athens GA-

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Glen Nowak says that he believes that the Zika virus is capable of becoming locally-acquired.

According to Nowak, Zika is locally-acquired whenever an infected person travels to a location where the disease is not found. A mosquito can bite this person and in return bite someone that is not infected by the disease.

Here is what you need to know about the Zika Virus according to the Center of Disease Control.

1. Mosquitos do not have the disease, they carry the disease.
2. There are no known locally-acquired cases in the United States.
3. The state of Georgia has 11 known travel-associated cases.

For more information, check out the CDC website.

According to Nowak, Georgia is in the summer months and will see an increase of mosquitos in the area, but he said that sexual transmission may make Zika locally-acquired more so than mosquitoes.

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Until we separate the fact from the fiction, here are some tips of precaution:

1. Wear mosquito repellant while outside
2. If traveling to a location with locally-acquired cases, wear long sleeves and pants while traveling.
3. Stay educated and alert about the Zika updates

Reporter Jazmine Calhoun