Zika: information in the nick of time

The association of Zika virus with microcephaly and other neurologic issues has led to widespread concern throughout the world. These concerns have led local and national government health agencies to take a variety of measures to inform the public, and to prevent the spread of the virus. In Florida, for example, there was widespread spraying in a Miami neighborhood where 16 cases of autochthonous transmission had been found, and an urgent travel alert issued quickly [1]. Newspapers rapidly began urging people, especially pregnant women, to take specific precautions. They offered suggestions that included chemical clothing treatment, wearing long sleeves and pants, and even staying indoors as much as possible [2]. In February 2016, CBS reported that mosquito repellent sales in the United States had already increased by 11.9% from 2015 [3].