Mosquito Control, Zika Virus, Governments Act

by BidPrime Research and Marketing

With the rise in temperatures, it means mosquitoes will return in force to annoy, ruin outdoors activities, and potentially worse. Although the Zika virus isn’t new, first reported in 1947, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Local transmission has been reported in many other countries and territories. Zika virus will likely continue to spread to new areas.

Read the full report on the CDC’s website.

Key Facts from the World Health Organization:

  • Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes mild fever and rash. Other symptoms include muscle pain, joint pain, headache, pain behind the eyes and conjunctivitis.

  • Zika virus disease is usually mild, with symptoms lasting only a few days.

  • The disease has similar clinical signs to dengue, and may be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.

  • There is no cure for Zika virus disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

  • Prevention and control relies on reducing the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and minimizing contact between mosquito vectors and people by using barriers (such as repellents, insect screens), reducing water-filled habitats supporting mosquito larvae in and close to dwellings, and reducing the adult mosquito populations around at-risk communities.

Governments, throughout the United States and Canada, are taking action on mosquito control and solutions and services to combat the zika virus. One example, from a press release issued just yesterday, Virginia’s Governor Terry McAuliffe, “With mosquito season upon us, prevention is the key to combating the threat of Zika virus,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Citizens across Virginia have the power to stop the spread of Zika whether they are at home, in their neighborhoods, or even when traveling abroad. We need everyone’s help to cut down mosquito populations and avoid mosquito bites as we move into summer.”

Assuredly, and as you will see, governments are doing more than merely publicizing the threat.

We researched our database and discovered, maybe not by coincidence, a notable spike in bid request activity beginning in December, 2015. Along with being able to provide a custom analysis, based on your geography of interest, and services/solutions requested, here is an infographic with general information, developed by one of our analysts.

Even NASA has gotten involved in assessing the potential threat. As reported today by Liz Szabo in USA Today, “NASA researchers plotted the Zika risk for 50 large U.S. cities based on factors such as whether the locations are home to the mosquito species that primarily spreads the virus, the Aedes aegypti. Researchers also considered temperature, rainfall, poverty, travel patterns and a history of disease outbreaks caused by Aedes aegypti.”

As noted above, our data reveals that Texas and Florida are two of the top four states in terms of applicable bids published. NASA projects, “South Florida and Texas have the greatest Zika risk.” The complete story.

What is being done in your area to control mosquitoes and to combat the zika virus threat?

For more information on the applicable bid requests, contact us at 888.808.5356, or visit BidPrime.