MetroHealth's 'Fight the bite' campaign targets mosquitoes

SAN ANTONIO – It’s the summer, and that means mosquitoes are out in full force!

And with cases of the Zika virus being reported in South Texas, MetroHealth’s Dr. Anita Kurian said it’s not as bad as it sounds.

For more tips on preventing mosquitoes, click HERE

“The majority of these cases we are seeing are imported cases,” she said, where travelers have been bit and brought back the virus to San Antonio.

She said it wasn’t something people need to be alarmed about, but it’s good to be cautious.

“The good news is that these mosquitoes (in San Antonio) are not yet infected with Zika virus,” she said.

Kurian said prevention is key in stopping transmission shared these tips:

Use repellent: “It’s one of the foremost preventive measures that we recommend,” Kurian said. She recommends using EPA-approved insect repellents because the effectiveness of these products has been assessed.

Read the label carefully. Do not apply them to your skin under your clothing — apply them to your exposed arms and legs. Do not spray in mouth or eyes. Apply sunscreen first and then repellent. Dab repellent on the skin of children, and do not used DEET-based repellents on infants.

Mosquito-proof your home: Use screens on windows and doors. Mosquitoes tend to live near humans, so look for and remove breeding sites in and near your own home by dump over standing water containers.

Pregnant women must be careful: Zika virus can have devastating health effects, so avoid mosquitoe bites or postpone traveling to regions where Zika is prevalent.

For more information, call 207-8780 or visit sanantonio.gov/health

For more tips on preventing mosquitoes, click HERE