8 Mosquito-Repelling Plants You Need in Your Backyard ASAP

The dangers of Zika from mosquito bites

As of February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, since it’s been reported in 55 countries around the world, including the United States. Fortunately, only about 20 percent of people with the Zika virus show any symptoms at all, and most are very mild. The most common Zika virus symptoms include conjunctivitis (red eyes), rash, fever, sore joints, and headache. Pregnant women, however, should take special care to avoid Zika virus, which can spread to unborn babies and cause a number of health issues, including microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected due to abnormal brain development. Zika virus is commonly transmitted through just a few species of mosquitoes, the pesky little critters you try to keep away from your outdoor activities anyway. So, if you already know how to avoid mosquito bites, and you take your usual precautions to ward off mosquitoes, you’re off to a good start. If you haven’t yet tried repelling mosquitoes naturally using plants, it’s an excellent time to begin! (Here are the fast facts you need to know about the Zika virus.)