The World Health Organization declared Feb. 1 that the Zika virus is a public health emergency of international concern. Zika is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Unlike other mosquitoes, Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive day biters but can also bite at night. The number of countries and territories with Zika transmitted locally is growing. Pregnant women are encouraged to take every precaution to prevent mosquito bites, especially in the first trimester. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Zika virus website. A list of areas with active, mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus is available on the CDC website.
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![Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Boase, dressed as Santa, waves to Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, before being dropped off by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.](http://images03.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_large/public/2024-12/santa.jpg?itok=KFVvxUEU "Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Boase, an intelligence chief, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), waves to Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, before being dropped off by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to deliver Christmas presents, Dec. 25, 2012. (Spc. Brian Smith-Dutton/U.S. Army photo)")
