Some of our coldest days are ahead of us, which is good news for Hoosier families who can't stand mosquitos.
Doctors and researchers are warning travelers to be cautious of the Zika virus.
The threat of the Zika virus is very real for families heading some place warm for the holidays.
Those at highest risk are expecting mothers.
At a forum Thursday evening at IU's School of Medicine in South Bend, researchers say there have been 45 reported cases of Zika in Indiana.
As of yet, there is no vaccine.
The days grow colder and the bothersome bugs have gone dormant.
“It's not out of the realm of possibility, but it seems unlikely this far north, at least without global warming that we'd have an outbreak here,” mosquito researcher Dr. Molly Duman Scheel said.
Indiana researchers say the Zika virus isn't just a concern a continent away. That's why they're warning Michiana travelers who are heading for warmer weather zones where mosquitos are buzzing.
“You're contagious when you have the virus before you're making the antibodies,” OBGYN Dr. Joseph Harmon said.
Dr. Harmon says Zika can be spread sexually from man to woman, then to an unborn child.
“It's the difference between a nuisance and a potential terrible infection that can cause problems in the brain of a developing baby,” Dr. Harmon said.
Like most viruses, most adults with Zika start to recover after a week, newborns are not so lucky. That's why doctors urge prevention before packing for any trip south.
“I think the best thing to do is cover up. Long sleeves, long pants. You can buy clothing with insecticide in it. You can treat your clothing with a spray called Permethrin,” Duman Scheel said.
“Sleeping in netted areas, staying in air conditioned places if they're available. Really being extra cautious about mosquito bites,” Dr. Harmon said.
Congress has approved over $1 billion to combat the Zika virus in the US.
Researchers say, realistically, a vaccine could be years away.
Dr. Harmon says travelers should check the CDC website for any travel warnings, but any couples trying to conceive should wait around eight weeks after returning home to minimize the risk.
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