If the campuswide siren sounds, do the following:
- Check your cell phone for a text message
- Check UMaine.edu for emergency information
- Check your email
If those options are not available, call 581.INFO (581.4636) to listen to a recorded message with more information.
ZIKA Virus
CDC Guidance for University and Colleges: Zika Topics to update students and staff/faculty
College and university administrators should pay particular attention to issues relevant to students in this age group, including sexual transmission, guidance for pregnant women and their male sexual partners, and travel advisories.
Zika Update 9/2016
What is Zika?
Zika Podcast: CDC Zika Update: What is Zika?
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and an estimated 80% of persons infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic. Symptomatic disease is generally mild, with symptoms of fever, skin rash, joint pain,headache or nonpurulent conjunctivitis (red eyes) that typically last from several days to one week.
Zika Podcast: CDC Zika Update: Zika Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Sporadic cases and outbreaks of Zika virus disease have occurred in countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2015, the first local Zika virus transmission in the Americas was reported in Brazil and local transmission has now been in several countries or territories in the Americas. The Florida Department of Health has identified two areas of Miami-Dade County where Zika is being spread by mosquitoes. In addition to the previously identified area in the Wynwood neighborhood, there is now mosquito-borne spread of Zika virus in a section of Miami Beach.
In the current outbreak in Brazil, a marked increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly has been reported and Zika virus infections have been confirmed in some infants with microcephaly. However, it is not known how many of the microcephaly cases are associated with Zika virus infection. Travelers to areas with ongoing outbreaks are at risk of becoming infected and spreading the virus to new areas, including the continental United States
Transmission
CDC webpage: Transmission and Risks
- A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy. Zika is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. We are studying the full range of other potential health problemthat Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.
- Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her partners. Zika can be passed through sex, even if the infected person does not have symptoms at the time.
- To date, there have not been any confirmed blood transfusion transmission cases in the United States.
- Anyone who lives in or travels to an area where Zika virus is found and has not already been infected with Zika virus can get it from mosquito bites. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections
Prevention
Pregnancy and Zika virus
CDC Podcast: What Pregnant Women Need to Know
Travel and Zika virus
CDC webpage: Advice For People Living in or Traveling to South Florida