Rain, mosquito season and Zika

After back-to-back days of rainfall, we’ve got another day of rain coming Friday.

That does not create a good scenario for escaping the Zika virus.

Georgia had 13 cases of the virus as of May 11, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

And water doesn’t help matters.

The Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the CDC said in a blog post.

It’s called a “container-breeding mosquito” because it likes to lay eggs in and around standing water.

“The eggs can survive when they dry out—up to 8 months,” the CDC said. “When it rains or water covers the eggs, they hatch and become adults in about a week.”

There haven’t been any homegrown cases of Zika. People who have contracted the virus got it while traveling outside of the United States.

Just in case you’re planning a long stay abroad or want to reduce mosquitoes here in Atlanta, there are steps to prevent mosquitoes from living and breeding around your home.

Once a week, empty and scrub trash cans, pool covers, buckets, vases and other containers that hold water, according to the CDC. And tightly cover storage containers to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside and laying eggs.

Read more tips at the CDC's health blog.

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