This Zika Kit was created and distributed by the Maryland Department of Health in 2016.
Zika is transmitted through a bite from the Aedes mosquito or through sexual intercourse with an infected individual. The disease typically presents with only mild symptoms but pregnant women can transmit the disease to their fetus, causing microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other birth defects. In the absence of effective treatment, public health officials have focused on prevention.
In 2015-2016, Zika, which had long been contained in equatorial Africa, spread to the Americas. On January 2,, 2016, the first case of Zika in the United States was reported in Puerto Rico. In early February, following confirmation of the Zika virus in a patient who had not traveled outside the mainland United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidelines regarding best practices for the prevention of Zika.
Although Zika case numbers remained low in the United States during 2016, health officials and political leaders were extremely concerned about a potential outbreak. In Maryland which had 9 cases by the spring of 2016, Governor Larry Hogan identified the week of April 26th as “Zika Awareness Week.” Public health messages focused on education, providing detailed information about the disease, its symptoms, and means of transmission. Marylanders were also encouraged to eradicate standing water which served as a breeding ground for mosquitos, to use insect repellent and condoms, and to report suspected cases.
To assist in limiting the spread of Zika, Marylanders received this kit free of charge. Information in the kit is provided in English and Spanish.
Items in the kit could easily be bought at pharmacies and other stores such as insect repellent spray, mosquito dunks (which, when placed in standing water, released a bacterium which killed mosquito larvae), and condoms. The kit provided Marylanders with these items free of charge, along with fact sheets from the CDC. These sheets provided detailed information about pregnancy and Zika along with the information detailing the best means of eradicating breeding grounds for mosquitos.
