The World Health Organization says the Zika virus is likely to spread to every area of the U.S. where the mosquito that carries it can be found - and that includes Georgia.
Although Georgia health officials have stated there have been no reported cases of the virus in the state, they expect to see cases in the near future after WHO announced Thursday that the virus is “spreading explosively” across the Americas.
A biology professor at Piedmont College, Rob Wainberg, says the secret to preventing viruses like Zika from breaking out in Georgia starts with controlling mosquito habitats.
"As long as you don't give them a place to breed, you wont have an issue with any kind of mosquito, whether it carries a vector disease like Zika or not," Wainberg said.
"We need to be conscious that mosquito larvae need standing water. After rainfall, especially in the summer months, it is easy to see them in standing water. The best thing to do is, if you can't change the water out in areas of standing water like bird baths, add a cup of Clorox every four to seven days."
Wainberg says places like bird baths, open garbage can lids and even potholes in roads are places where mosquitos can quickly breed in Georgia because of the amount of rain and sub-tropical temperatures.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control has stated that 31 Americans in 11 states and Washington, D.C., have been diagnosed with a Zika infection. In those cases, however, the virus was contracted while traveling abroad.
Wainberg was a guest last week on WDUN's Afternoon News Wrap.
Tuesday
November 26th, 2024
11:33PM
