Workers taking action on Zika

BROWNSVILLE — As vendors and shoppers started their day Saturday morning at the Brownsville Flea Market, there was a lively game of loteria going at Roof No. 1.

Players weren’t marking well-known images like la dama or el catrin on their cards. Instead, there were illustrations related to the causes, symptoms and prevention of the Zika virus. The winner walked away with a mosquito fogger.

The twist on the classic game was part Zika Action Day by the Cameron County and City of Brownsville health departments. They’re working to educate the public about the importance of preventing the spread of the Zika virus as summer approaches.

Veronica Ramirez Garcia, a health educator with Cameron County Public Health, said the county and its partners are raising awareness about the disease heading into peak mosquito season.

“Prevention is the best medicine for the spread of disease,” Ramirez Garcia said.

Zika is spread by mosquitoes and is sexually transmittable. Only about 20 percent of people who contract Zika show symptoms, she added.

Henry Presas, a Zika field assignee consultant for the City of Brownsville, said the signs of the virus include rash, eye redness, joint pain and fever.

“Zika is here to stay,” he said, adding that the same goes for the dengue virus. “Zika can have harmful effects on unborn kids.”

Ramirez Garcia said it’s important for women to get tested during each trimester of pregnancy or if they are considering getting pregnant. The event included a dropoff bin for unwanted tires, which can collect standing water and become mosquito breeding grounds.

People are encouraged to protect themselves with long sleeves and insect repellant when spending time outdoors.

The event included children’s activities and bingo, where participants could earn a goody bag with mosquito repellant and Mosquito Dunks, which kill mosquito larvae in standing water, for visiting 10 Zika Action Day vendors.

Ramirez Garcia said while there haven’t been any local Zika cases recently, being in an area close to the border and with constant travel means residents need to remain vigilant.