Video: Precautions Against Zika Virus

by Victoria Bailey
COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)—It started in Central and South America.

But the Zika virus has traveled north.

Right now, there are 11 Mississippians with the virus, including 2 in Oktibbeha County.

And although these cases are travel-related, reports just this week confirm the mosquito that carries the virus has been found in a Miami neighborhood.

It all begins with education and being pro-active. And that’s just what the city of Columbus is doing.

The Zika virus originates with mosquito. Columbus public works director Casey bush says it’s more important than ever to take precautions.

Columbus Public Works Director Casey Bush says,” with what we have going on now with in our state, the Zika and the West Nile various , it’s important. We don’t want to actually have anyone in our city or surrounding cities to catch West Nile or be infected with the Zika virus.”

Mosquitoes breed and live around bodies of water, especially stagnant water. But Bush says Mosquito can live just about anywhere.

Bush says,”Home owners have tires in the back that they haven’t brought to the front or get them away from their house. That’s where mosquito tend to swarm and breed around those tires.”

The public works office is passing Mosquito pellets out to members of the community. Bush says this is just an added measure of safety.

Bush says,”It’s designed to kill the mosquito before they get big enough to bite, and if a resident has any standing water whether it’s in their yard or by their house where we have a ditch at. They can call us and we will send someone out to give them some repellent.”

The Zika virus symptoms can be spotted quickly and should be acted upon right way says family pharmacist Hank Norwood.

Family Pharmacist Hank Norwood says,” Most times we see the symptoms that happen within 2-7 days. We’d have a fever, we’d have a rash maybe muscle pain and also a kind of bloodshot eyes called conjunctivitis.”

Norwood says expectant moms are most at risk.

Norwood says,” The most concerned population we’re concerned with is the pregnant patients. If someone was expecting we’d want them to get in touch with their doctor pretty quickly with the Zika virus with the pregnancy.”
There are many preventative measures that can be taken to help cut down on the risk and it doesn’t even involve medicine.

Take a look at these tips.

Even though its hot, its best to wear a long sleeved shirt and pants outside, staying clear of bodies of water and use a repellent of some kind.

But what if you are bitten???

Our experts tell us patients are advised to
drink plenty of fluids, get rest avoid excessive exposure to outside where you could come in contact with the mosquitoes.
If your home has standing water near by your asked to contact the Public Works Office at 662-328 4481.

The Mosquito repellant is not safe for animals.