City Council Announces Initiative to Raise Awareness Surrounding Zika Virus Partnering with Mobile County Health Department in Districts

Jun 21st, 2016

Posted in: General News

June 21, 2016

 

City Council Announces Initiative to Raise Awareness Surrounding Zika Virus

Partnering with Mobile County Health Department in Districts

 

Mobile, AL – The Mobile City Council today announced an initiative to raise awareness of the Zika virus and ways in which communities and citizens can protect themselves. The multi-pronged awareness and education campaign is in partnership with the Mobile County Health Department (MCHD).

“While the Mobile County Health Department is doing what they can to address a potential impact in our area, we can all play a role in fighting this virus,” said Council President Gina Gregory. “The Council is committed to do everything we can to arm our constituents with the facts and information on what they can do to protect their families and communities.”

Dr. Bernard H. Eichold II, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, and Jerry Folse, who oversees MCHD’s Vector Control and its mosquito spraying program, spoke at today’s council meeting about the virus and its potential impact on our region.

As part of this effort, the City Council will:

• Provide information on the virus and preventative measures in District newsletters and other communications.
   
• Hold Community and District meetings with representatives of MCHD to brief constituents on the virus and preventative measures.
   
• Hold Community Clean Ups throughout the summer with a specific focus on eliminating standing water (where mosquitos breed) and educating participants about the virus and preventative measures.

 

• Raise awareness through the summer months and get the community involved through ‘Standing Water Saturdays,’ where constituents will be encouraged to walk around their property to look for and dispose of any standing water.

 

More information on the Zika virus and the efforts of the MCHD and Alabama Department of Public Health is available on their websites:  www.mchd.org and www.adph.org/mosquito.

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