Map of counties affected by Zika Virus as of December 2015. Source: CDC
Health Minister, Horace Dalley has again sounded the alarm for vigilance of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases by heightening the alert for the Zik-V virus. The Minister has called for 1,000 youth workers to be recruited to carry out educational activities on dealing with mosquitoes through destroying breeding sites and preventing bites. He has further called on civil society to play a role in the educational campaign to prepare for, and ultimately discourage the spread of Zik-V to and throughout the island.
diGJamaica has resources to help in this quest. Check out:
- Our Zik-V profile that includes symptoms of the disease, tips for preventing its spread, and treatment options
- A post on 14 Natural Mosquito Repellents, that also has a mosquito prevention check-list
As of December, there have been reports of the Zika virus in ten Latin American and Caribbean countries. They are Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama, Suriname and Venezuela. Preparedness will be essential to limit this disease’s potential impact on Jamaica. Be sure to check out diG’s social media pages for daily tips on for dealing with mosquitoes.
