Beware of Mosquitos! In particular, please take care to avoid mosquitos when travelling overseas.

The number of children born with microcephaly in Brazil has been increasing recently, and this is thought to be linked to the Zika virus. Further, there was an outbreak of dengue fever in Japan in the summer of 2014, for the first time in 70 years. In order to protect ourselves against these infectious diseases, it is important to take care to avoid mosquito bites, as well as reducing the mosquito population. It is particularly important that care is taken when visiting Brazil, the Philippines, and other countries with reported outbreaks.

Zika Virus Infections Dengue Fever

Symptoms

Mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, etc.

Incubation period: 2 to 12 days (around 2 to 7 days in most cases).

80% of those infected have no symptoms. When pregnant women are infected, the disease

can spread to their unborn children, and may cause congenital disorders such as microcephaly.

Sudden fever, headache, eye pain, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, etc.

Incubation period: 2 to 15 days (around 3 to 7 days in most cases)

Many of those infected have no symptoms. In very rare cases severe infections can cause

bleeding, which can be fatal if left untreated.

Risk Areas Africa, Central America, the Asia-Pacific Region In recent years, it has spread across South and

Central America All tropical and subtropical regions

Carrier Mosquitos

Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) (within Japan: Asian tiger mosquito)

Treatment No specialized cure exists, but the symptoms can be treated (the prognosis is relatively good).

Vaccine No vaccines have been developed.

The current status of Zika and dengue fever outbreaks (as of 15th March 2016)

When going outside during the day...

How should I protect myself?

Aedes mosquitos are active during the daytime, and often bite people near thickets and trees. Keep as much skin covered as possible when outside during the day and protect yourself with bug sprays.

Women who are/may be pregnant: If you are or may be pregnant, please avoid travelling to Zika risk areas. Men returning home from a risk area: The disease can be transmitted through sexual activity. If you have visited a risk area, and particularly if your partner is pregnant, always use a condom regardless of whether or not symptoms are present.

Not all mosquitos carry the virus, so there is no need to panic if you are bitten. However, if you are worried about infection or develop a fever or other symptoms, please go through quarantine upon return to Japan. If you are worried about anything after you have returned to Japan, visit your local public health centre.

What if I get bitten by a mosquito in a risk area?

Cover your skin! （E.g. wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers）

Use bug spray!

Health Centre Telephone Address Notes

Gifu Health Centre 058-380-3002 1-1 Nakafudogaoka, Kakamigahara-shi ※Telephone interpreting is available at each health centre (Portuguese, Tagalog, Chinese, English). Interpreters can also be dispatched from Seino Prefectural Office (Portuguese), and Kamo Prefectural Office (Portuguese, Tagalog).

Seino Health Centre 0584-73-1111 422-3 Ezaki-chō, Ogaki-shi

Seki Health Centre 0575-33-4011 1612-2 Ikushi, Mino-shi

Chūno Health Centre 0574-25-3111 2610-1 Ōwaki, Shimofurui, Furui-chō, Minokamo-shi

Tōno Health Centre 0572-23-1111 568-1 Ueno-chō, Tajimi-shi

Ena Health Centre 0573-26-1111 1067-71 Shōge, Osashima-chō, Ena-shi

Hida Health Centre 0577-33-1111 7-468 Kamiokamoto-machi, Takayama-shi

英語

Reduce the mosquito population in your area!

The Asian tiger mosquito lays its eggs in small pools of water, like old tin cans filled with rain. You can help reduce the Asian tiger mosquito population by removing stagnant water puddles.

Egg

2-5 days

Larva 7-10 days

Pupa

2-4 days

Adult

15-30 days

Mosquito Life Cycle Water is needed for the eggs to hatch and for larvae to survive. Removing puddles can help reduce mosquito populations.

◆ The Asian Tiger Mosquito◆

Asian tiger mosquitos are active from

mid-May to late October. They often bite

people in parks, gardens and graveyards,

and are particularly active during the day.

Adult mosquitos die out when the

temperature drops in autumn, but eggs

can survive the winter.

They have one white stripe along their

backs, and black-and-white striped legs.

Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Health and Environmental Sciences

Have you seen any of the following in your area?

Photo from the IDSC Medical Entomology Gallery

Asian tiger mosquitos do not travel far from their habitats. If you see a black-and-white striped mosquito, check the nearby area for small pools of stagnant water!

Discarded glass bottles, PET bottles, and tin cans

Buckets and watering cans left out in the rain

Old tires filled with rain

Manhole cover grooves

Asian tiger mosquitos lay eggs in very small puddles of water.

☝Pour away any unneeded water.

☝At least once a week, clean and replace the water in any water pools that cannot be removed.

How are the diseases spread?

Both dengue fever and the Zika virus are transmitted by mosquito bites. When a mosquito bites an infected person, the virus multiplies inside its body. The infection is passed on when the mosquito bites others and spreads the virus.

Can you catch the Zika virus in Japan?

The Asian tiger mosquito, which is a carrier of Zika, is found throughout most of Japan, including all regions of Gifu. (The yellow fever mosquito is not found in Japan.) There are no reported cases of the Zika virus in Japan, but if an infected person returning from a risk area is bitten by an Asian tiger mosquito in Japan, there is a chance that the mosquito could bite others and spread the disease.

Infected person Infection

Infection

Rainwater drains

Plant pot saucers