Lake Technical College is partnering with the State to spread the word about preventing the spread of the Zika virus. As part of our partnership, we are taking the following steps:
- Sharing information from the Florida Department of Health to help educators integrate into classrooms important health messages on preventing mosquito bites;
- Ensuring our faculty/staff receive training on Zika prevention and symptom identification; and
- Conducting mosquito reduction activities around our campuses by getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed and coordinating with local mosquito control if spraying is needed.
There are several simple measures you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure and help prevent further spread.
What you should know:
- Zika symptoms are generally mild, but it has been linked to severe birth defects if a woman contracts the virus during pregnancy.
- There is no vaccine to prevent Zika, and there is no specific treatment for infected individuals.
- Zika is primarily spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Recommended actions:
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to cover skin while outdoors. Wear socks that cover ankles and lower legs.
- Cover exposed skin with an Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellent. Always follow product instructions when applying. If using sunscreen, apply that first and then apply repellent.
- Eliminate sources of standing water (e.g., bird baths, pet bowls, buckets, trash bins) around your home or property. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon – or bottle cap of water – so eliminating even very small amounts of standing water can go a long way to reducing the mosquito population near you.
- Make sure windows and doors are covered by screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
We are looking forward to a successful school year and we will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to maintain the safety and well-being of our students.
If you have any additional questions about Zika, please contact the Florida Department of Health’s Zika Information Hotline at 1-855-622-6735 or visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.