You can help by eliminating standing water around your home at least once a week. The following is a quick list of items you can do around your home to reduce mosquito breeding sites.

• Discard old tires; drill holes in tires used as playground equipment to drain trapped water.
• Remove or discard broken or unused toys in your yard, especially children’s pools.
• Keep lids on the garbage cans. This will prevent the can and the lid from filling with water.
• Keep all eaves and gutters clear of debris that could hold water.
• Tighten tarps on boats or other equipment to prevent standing water.
• Replace water in any birdbaths or water dishes/troughs at least twice a week.
• Repair leaking outdoor faucets that create pools of water.
• Check plants with large leaves that may collect water and flush as needed.
• Empty water that collects in plant drip trays.
• Keep window and door screens in good repair. Screen doors should open outward and have automatic closing devices and latches.
• Check for and drain standing water in pots, buckets or items stored outside.

 
When traveling to countries where Zika Virus has been reported, all travelers should take steps to prevent mosquito bites, such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and staying in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens. 

It is important, though, that pregnant women prevent mosquito bites in any country that has the Zika Virus.
 
If you have any additional questions, please contact 630-CITY(2489) or check out the Mosquito Control website at www.coj.net/mosquito

Last week, Governor Rick Scott directed State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The hotline, managed by the Department of Health, has assisted 439 callers since Friday. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.

All cases currently in Florida are travel-associated. There have been no locally-acquired cases of Zika in Florida. None of the confirmed cases involve pregnant women. For more information on the Zika virus, click here.

State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong urges Floridians to drain standing water weekly, no matter how seemingly small. A couple drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding location for mosquitoes. Residents and visitors also need to use repellents when enjoying the Florida outdoors.

More Information on DOH action on Zika:

• On Feb. 3, Governor Scott directed State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong to issue a Declaration of Public Health Emergency for the counties of residents with travel-associated cases of Zika.
• The Declaration currently includes the eight effected counties – Alachua, Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Osceola, Santa Rosa and St. Johns – and will be updated as needed. 
• DOH encourages Florida residents and visitors to protect themselves from all mosquito-borne illnesses by draining standing water; covering their skin with repellent and clothing; and covering windows with screens.
• DOH has a robust mosquito-borne illness surveillance system and is working with the CDC, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and local county mosquito control boards to ensure that the proper precautions are being taken to protect Florida residents and visitors.
• Florida currently has the capacity to test 4,963 people for active Zika virus and 1,341 for Zika antibodies.

Federal Guidance on Zika:

• According to the CDC, Zika illness is generally mild with a rash, fever and joint pain. CDC researchers are examining a possible link between the virus and harm to unborn babies exposed during pregnancy.
• Yesterday, the FDA released guidance regarding donor screening, deferral and product management to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmission of Zika virus. Additional information is available on the FDA website here.

For more information on Zika virus, click here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.


View the "Mosquito Bite Protection in Florida" flyer from the Florida Department of Health