Hollywood Commission concerned about Zika virus threat

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At a recent meeting, the Hollywood Commission spoke about growing concerns surrounding the Zika virus, and how it might affect the City’s residents. According to the World Health Organization, the Zika virus, which is spread primarily by the Aedes mosquito, has “no specific treatment or vaccine,” and the best form of prevention is protecting against mosquito bites.

“We are looking for funding from the federal government to get antiviral medication for people who get the Zika virus,” said Commissioner Patricia Asseff. “In Hollywood we want to get the word out to spray clothing with mosquito repellent, and we want to make sure there are enough chemicals in pools to prevent mosquitos from breeding there.”

People with Zika may have no symptoms, or may experience:

Pain areas: in the back of the eyes, joints, or muscles

Whole body: fatigue, fever, chills, loss of appetite, or sweating

Also common: eye redness, headache, skin rash, or vomiting

Florida Governor Rick Scott has said he will travel to Washington D.C. to meet with Congressional leaders on the importance of treating the Zika virus the way they would a hurricane threat, which means specific preparation and response efforts by the federal government.

In a press release Governor Scott was quoted as saying, “We don’t yet know for certain what will happen with this virus, but we owe our citizens a vigorous and thorough preparation effort at the federal level to best protect their health.”

RELATED:  Short Answers to Hard Questions About Zika Virus

 

Sources: Mayo Clinic and others.

Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in social media marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Social Media Management from the University of Florida and a Social Media Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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