The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Zika response plan late in October of 2016 that replaced previous plans released in July and August of the same year. In the plan the CDC notes that it will support state and local entities in preparing for the coming mosquito season. The CDC lists three stages of response and the transmission response category associated with each stage.
Pre-Incident Stage (Phase 0/1)
The pre-incident stage, also referred to as Phase 0/1 includes preparedness and mosquito season. During the preparedness phase local and state authorities should prepare for the presence of the vector in their state. Mosquito season is when the Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus are biting. This is when cases most likely will be introduced via sexual activity, travel, or from other bodily fluid transmission.
Suspected/Confirmed Incident (Phase 2)
The second phase of the CDC response plan is known as the suspected/confirmed incident phase. The risk category in this phase is confirmed local transmission. A local entity or state reaches this phase when a single, locally acquired case or group of cases becomes clustered in a single home. These occurrences must happen less than two weeks apart from each other.
Incident/Response (Phase 3)
The third phase of the CDC response plan for the Zika virus is the incident/response phase. The risk category associated with this phase is confirmed multiperson local transmission. This happens when illnesses develop in people related to the Zika virus less than or equal to two weeks from each other and within approximately one mile of each other.
With all three phases, state and local authorities will be notified. The goal of the response plan is to identify potential Zika issues before they occur.
Contact Tick Killz today to learn more about the Zika virus and how the CDC is responding to incidents as they become aware.