After Storm Precautions & Zika Prevention Tips

Details

02 Sep

Pinellas Country & the City of St Pete has asked that the following be circulated. Please think about how many places on your property you might have containers with water standing in them. Please be pro-active in emptying every possible one. If we all work together, we can avoid an outbreak in our community! Thank you for your help.

Department of Health – Pinellas County As the rains from Hurricane Hermine pass, it's important to take precautions to protect your health and that of your family. The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County recommends these steps for your safety: AVOID FLOODWATERS AND STANDING WATER.

• Never drive your car or walk over standing water because it's impossible to gauge its current or depth.

• Do not allow children to play in standing water. Snakes, insects and other dangerous animals also move with water currents and the water contains oil, gasoline, garbage and bacteria.
• • Monitor radio and TV broadcasts for warnings about dangerous road conditions.
  • After the rains pass, empty containers and other areas that collect water around your home. Mosquitos need only a quarter-inch of water for larvae to grow.

  For more information about storm preparedness, go to Pinellas County Emergency Management site, http://www.PinellasCounty.org/emergency.

  For information about keeping healthy and safe during emergencies, visit www.floridahealth.gov and download your copy of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Guide in English, Spanish, Creole or large print.

  For information about DOH-Pinellas, go to www.PinellasHealth.com. Follow us on Twitter @HealthyPinellas for updates. Maggie Hall (727) 824-6908 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  Pinellas: Joint mosquito combating efforts continue amid latest Zika developments

  In light of an ongoing investigation relating to a non-travel related case of Zika virus, Pinellas County Mosquito Control and the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas are reminding residents of important prevention tips as they continue joint efforts against mosquito-borne illnesses.

  Mosquito Control technicians are aggressively treating known breeding areas by ground and by air, as well as responding to calls from citizens. They have responded to over 500 service calls since the beginning of the month – with an average response time of 24 hours or less.

  “We continue to urge our residents to do their part in helping to reduce the mosquito population,” said Rob Krueger, Entomology and Education Support Specialist, Pinellas County Mosquito Control. “Dumping outdoor containers that hold standing water is the main step our citizens can take in the fight against Zika.”

  Additional steps residents can take include:

  • Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly.
  • Flush ornamental bromeliads or treat with BTI, a biological larvicide available at home stores.
  • Clean roof gutters, which can become clogged and hold water.
  • Change the water in outdoor pet dishes regularly.
  • Keep pools and spas chlorinated and filtered.
  • Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.
  • Cover rain barrels with screening.
  • Check for standing water under houses, near plumbing drains, under air conditioner drip areas, and around septic tanks and heat pumps.
  • Eliminate standing water, improve drainage and prevent future puddling.

  Mosquito bites can irritate skin and potentially spread disease. Residents are urged to protect their skin from mosquito bites when outdoors by wearing mosquito repellent (products containing DEET, IR3535, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus) and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants. These simple preventive measures can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in Pinellas County and minimize mosquito-borne diseases.

  For more information about Pinellas County Mosquito Control, visit www.pinellascounty.org/resident/mosquito_control.htm. To place a Mosquito Control service call, please call (727) 464-7503.

  The Pinellas County “Doing Things for You” app is available for residents to report issues and access useful resources. Pinellas County can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. More information is available on the county website, www.pinellascounty.org, which features LiveChat for assistance. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

  Zika Virus Information Hotline: 1-855-622-6735.