After two confirmed cases of the Zika virus in Tennessee ,
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department officials are encouraging the
public to protect themselves from mosquitoes this spring and summer.
Zika has been associated with birth defects, and there is
currently no vaccine, health department officials said.
Health department officials said both local cases were
travel-related. Though the two occurrences were not in Hamilton County
Officials said people should wear long, loose and light
clothing while outside. They also recommend treating clothing with permethrin
in places with an exceptionally large mosquito population. Officials also
recommend treating exposed skin with Deet.
To mitigate breeding grounds, administrator Becky Barnes said
she recommends the removal of standing water. In cases where that might be
difficult—as with birdbaths, garden pools or ditches—use larvicides such as
mosquito torpedoes or dunks, she said.
"The reason we are putting emphasis on eliminating
standing water is because the mosquitoes responsible for carrying these
illnesses rarely travel much farther than the length of two football fields, or
200 yards, from where they are born," Barnes said.
A health department news release attributed the following to
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger:
Mosquito
season has started in Tennessee ,
and with it comes the potential for mosquito-borne illness. We are urging
residents and business owners to check their yards and establishments for any
items holding water where mosquitoes lay eggs and multiply. A mosquito can lay
her eggs in something as small as a plastic soda bottle top, so by eliminating
breeding grounds, you help prevent yourself or someone else from suffering a
mosquito bite.
Health department officials encourage concerned residents to
click here to
learn more about Zika, or call the Overseas Travel Clinic at
423-209-8340 for recommendations.
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