According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have been a total of 1,962 case of the Zika virus reported in the United States.

The virus is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night. The World Health Organization says it is likely that the virus will spread because this particular kind of mosquito is found in almost every county in the Americas and the virus is most active in South and Central America. The disease can also be sexually transmitted and there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.

The most recent figures, which were published by the CDC on Aug. 10, show that all but six of those 1,962 cases are travel-related, the others being locally acquired mosquito-borne cases in Florida.

More than 500 cases have been reported in pregnant women and that’s bad because the virus can be transmitted to the fetus and cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, as well as defects of the eye, hearing deficits or impaired growth.

While there have been no locally acquired case here in Ohio, there have been more than 25 travel-related cases.

Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, with some experiencing muscle pain and a headache.

Symptoms can last for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. Once a person has been infected with Zika, they are likely to be protected from future infections.

It could be only a matter of time before infected mosquitoes are reported all over the United States, so it’s best to be cautious and follow the CDC’s tips on how to prevent Zika.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and treat your clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pre-treated items.

• Use insect repellent with DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol.

• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.

• Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.

• Mosquito netting can be used to cover babies younger than 2 months old in carriers, strollers, or cribs.

• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.