Protecting Outdoor Workers From Zika Virus: CDC Gives New Guidelines To Reduce Risk Of Infection

Many outdoor workers are at great risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes with Zika virus. For this reason, the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued new guidelines for protecting outdoor workers from Zika virus infection.

The new guidelines from CDC urge employers to raise their outdoor workers' awareness about the risks of acquiring Zika virus, Medical Daily reported. The new rules also urge employers to provide proper training for their outdoor workers on how they can reduce their risk of getting bitten by Zika virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Another important part of the new CDC guidelines for protecting outdoor workers from Zika virus is giving female workers who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant a reassignment to indoor work. Male outdoor workers who have pregnant partners or planning to get their partners pregnant can also be reassigned to indoor jobs because Zika virus can be sexually transmitted.

Zika virus has been proven by scientists to cause microcephaly in babies of infected pregnant women. "The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, which causes temporary paralysis in adults," according to Medical Daily.

Protecting outdoor workers from Zika virus can be done in different ways. Eliminating stagnant water around the house and work area, properly applying mosquito repellent, keeping doors and windows always closed, wearing long sleeve shirts, wearing long pants and treating clothes with permethrin are some of the most effective ways to prevent acquiring the Zika virus, the CDC shared.