OSHA and CDC Publishes Guidelines for Zika Virus Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines on how to protect against workers against the Zika virus.

The Zika virus made world news last year when officials in South America linked the transmissible disease to birth defects. However, the virus was first identified in Uganda more than half a century ago, during which researchers had found the virus in monkeys. It wasn't until six years later when the Zika virus was identified in humans. Since then, outbreaks have been reports in Africa, South America, Central America, North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Symptoms of the Zika virus are generally mild, consisting of fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, body pain and headache. Because the virus has been linked to birth defects, however, pregnant women have the greatest health risks. This is why OSHA and the CDC are advising companies to reassign pregnant women and women who plan to conceive to indoor tasks. By working indoors, female workers can minimize the risk of catching this transmittable disease.

"Some workers, including those working with insecticides in areas of active Zika transmission to control mosquitoes and healthcare workers who may be exposed to contaminated blood or other potentially infectious materials from people infected with Zika virus, may require additional protection," wrote health officials in a statement to the press.

Employers should also allow workers to wear loose, lightweight clothes, which is believed to reduce their risk of transmission by creating a barrier that prevents mosquitoes from reaching their skin. Because Zika is transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes, OSHA and the CDC are focusing their efforts on pest control. Besides, wearing lightweight, loose-fitted clothes also helps to protect against the sun's ultraviolet rays, reducing the risk of sun damage for workers.

The removal of standing water is another critical step in protecting workers from the Zika virus. Small pools of water offer ideal breeding grounds for these disease-carrying pests. Employers should inspect their outdoor work sites on a regular basis, removing tires, buckets, cups or other containers that could hold water and mosquitoes

You can read more about the CDC and OSHA's guidelines on Zika virus protection by visiting this link.