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Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should avoid travel to areas affected by the Zika virus, reminded a state health official today.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends that pregnant women avoid travel to Zika-affected areas,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist for the South Dakota Department of Health. “People who do travel to the tropics and sub-tropics where Zika is transmitted need to protect themselves from mosquitoes with pants and long-sleeved shirts, an EPA-registered insect repellent and intact window and door screens.”

For most healthy adults the infection is mild and only 20 percent of people infected will become ill. Pregnant women who are infected run the risk of delivering babies born with the birth defect microcephaly. Babies with the defect have heads smaller than expected and often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

South Dakota is one of five states that has yet to report a Zika case. However, Kightlinger said the department is following one woman on CDC’s Zika Pregnancy Registry, an asymptomatic pregnant woman who previously lived in a Zika-affected area and was not ill but tested positive for Zika infection. The registry collects information about pregnancy and infant outcomes following laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Women on the registry are followed throughout pregnancy and their infants are checked at birth and at 2, 6 and 12 months of age.

Because the virus can be sexually transmitted, men who live in or have visited Zika-affected areas should abstain from unprotected sex. Individuals who do travel to a Zika-affected area and become ill within two weeks should see their doctor. CDC recommends all pregnant women who travel to Zika-affected areas be tested at 2 to 12 weeks upon their return, whether they are sick or not.

Zika is not known to be carried by the mosquitoes found in South Dakota.

The Nutrition and Physical Activity Program in the Department of Health launched a campaign to get all South Dakotans to walk more this summer.

In conjunction with the Surgeon General’s recent Call to Walk, the campaign emphasizes walking as the single most recommended form of exercise. It’s one of the easiest, least expensive and most customizable types of physical activity, according to Kiley Hump, chronic disease prevention and health promotion administrator for the Department of Health.

“Regular physical activity reduces the risk of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, depression and even falls. Walking for just 15 or 20 minutes per day is one of the most accessible ways to stay active, reduce health risks and improve quality of life,” said Hump. “Walk with friends, family, coworkers and pets in your neighborhood, community and at work.”

The campaign includes monthly Facebook photo contests from June to September. Post a photo and use the hashtag #WalkToWinSD to enter. Winners will receive physical activity trackers or walking shoes.

“Slightly more than half of South Dakota adults meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for aerobic activity,” said Hump. “The goal of this campaign is to encourage South Dakotans to add a little more physical activity to their daily routines.”

Data from the department’s behavioral risk factor survey shows walking is the most reported physical activity for 39 percent of South Dakotans and the second most-reported activity for another 10 percent.

At the request of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, Gov. Dennis Daugaard has proclaimed Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, as “Purple Heart Recognition Day,” calling on all South Dakotans to honor those men and women who are recipients of the Purple Heart Medal.

“While we are grateful to all of those who have served our nation, the 7th of August is a day designated to remember and recognize the sacrifices endured by those members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal, ” said Larry Zimmerman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. “It is fitting to set aside a day to recognize those who have been awarded the highest honor for their service.”

The Governor encourages all South Dakotans to set aside time on Aug. 7 to honor our soldiers who have been honored with the Purple Heart. “The men and women serving in our Armed Forces are tough, determined, courageous and capable of unbelievable acts of courage and sacrifice,” said Gov. Daugaard.

“Our military remains as strong as it has ever been. America’s veterans have been defined by the virtues of selfless service, sacrifice and devotion to duty,” said Zimmerman. “These men and women, who serve and have served, are the flesh and blood of American exceptionalism.”

Near record numbers of Americans are expected to head to national parks this year as the U.S. National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary. Visitation to the national parks reached an all-time high in 2015 with more than 307 million visitors, the Park Service says, and AAA reports the parks will remain busy places in the year ahead. According to a recent AAA survey, 79 percent of Americans say they are as likely (42 percent) or more likely (37 percent) to visit a national park in the next 12 months, building on the momentum of this year’s centennial celebrations.

“The demand for national parks is off the charts this year, and it’s exciting to see that Americans are poised to take even more national park vacations in the years to come,” said Bryan Shilling, managing director of AAA Travel Products and Services. “In times of global uncertainty, many are turning to domestic vacations and the variety of national parks offers something for every traveler to discover.”

Eighty-five percent of Americans have visited at least one national park, and a majority say the national parks are a “must-see” vacation destination (73 percent).

Here in South Dakota, our own Badlands National Park in the southwestern part of the state boasts the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the U. S. as well as one of the richest deposits of mammal fossils anywhere,” said Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. “The Badlands National Monument was established in 1939 and then was named a National Park in 1978. The 244,000-acre park is home now to bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, much of the 100-mile “Badlands Wall” with its dramatic spires, pinnacles and buttes – as well as a million visitors annually.”

National parks are growing in popularity among younger generations, with nearly half of Millennials (46 percent) saying that they are more likely to visit a national park in the next year, outpacing both Generation X and Baby Boomers.

“It’s not surprising to see that younger generations are particularly interested in visiting national parks,” said Shilling. “Travel is part of Millennials’ DNA, and they consistently seek experiential travel opportunities, a major draw for national park visitors.”

According to the National Park Service, the most visited national parks in 2015 were Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain. AAA’s survey revealed the national parks that top most Americans’ bucket lists for future travels include Yellowstone (33 percent), Yosemite (17 percent) and Grand Canyon (12 percent).

Travelers planning trips to national parks in 2016 can enjoy discounts on select dates in honor of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. All sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission Aug. 25-28, on Sept. 24 and on Nov. 11. The service’s actual 100th birthday is Aug. 25.

Results from the AAA survey reveal additional details about Americans’ national park vacation preferences:

The vast majority (91 percent) of visitors to national parks drive to their destination. The remainder choose to fly (18 percent), ride on trains or buses (10 percent each) or take a cruise or boat (7 percent).

The majority of Americans (66 percent) typically stay in a hotel, motel or lodge when visiting a national park. Camping (41 percent), vacation rentals or cabins (38 percent), staying with friends and family (33 percent) and bed and breakfasts (27 percent) are also popular accommodation options.

Visitors’ favorite national park activities include walking or hiking on park trails (53 percent) and sightseeing (35 percent).

To evaluate national park travel intentions, AAA contracted with a national research company to perform a telephone survey of 1,012 adults living in the continental United States. Survey results are an accurate representation of the total continental U.S. population with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted June 23-26, 2016.

South Dakota’s gas price average continues to drift lower. It’s now at $2.25 for a gallon of self-serve regular fuel, fifty-five cents lower than one year ago, according to GasPrices.AAA.com.

It’s been over two months since South Dakota’s price average was as low as it is today, AAA reports. However, the state’s low for 2016 occurred on Feb. 15 when it hit $1.64. The all-time high price for self-serve regular gasoline in South Dakota was reached on July 18, 2008 when it came in at $4.091 per gallon.
With abundant fuel supplies across the nation and declining crude oil costs, gas prices dropped in 47 states over the past week, led by double digit drops in several Midwestern states. Gas prices have dropped in 48 states during the previous month with prices down by at least 25 cents per gallon in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. Prices are substantially lower than one year ago in every state, headlined by California, where prices are more than a dollar cheaper than this time last year.

National pump prices have fallen for 43 of the past 44 days, dropping 22 cents during this span. The national average price for regular gasoline sits at $2.21 per gallon, which is the lowest mark since April and the lowest price for this date since 2004. Today’s price is five cents less than one week ago, 15 cents less than one month ago, and 56 cents less than the same date last year.

AAA believes gas prices are likely to remain low for the remainder of the summer compared to recent years. U.S. crude oil supplies are at their highest level for this time of year in 86 years; although domestic oil production has ticked lower each of the past nine months. While oil production has slowed slightly, fuel production has continued to rise. This is supported by data from the American Petroleum Institute, which last week reported fuel deliveries for June were three percent higher than in 2015 and the highest number in nine years. Overall, domestic deliveries are 1.7 percent higher during the first half of 2016 than the same period last year, which is in line with AAA reports of travelers taking advantage of lower gas prices and hitting the roads in record numbers this year.