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CDC pushes schools to help prevent Zika spread

ATLANTA — There is a federal push to make sure schools are doing what they can to help prevent the spread of Zika virus.

The two types of mosquitos known to spread Zika fly about 150 yards. As long as there is no one positive with Zika in the area and no breeding opportunities, the chance for the spread of Zika in Georgia are less. %

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“Right now the risk for those mosquitos that can transport or are known to transport Zika is lower here in Georgia than compared to Florida,” Chris Kumnick with the Georgia Department of Health stated.

Miami Beach, Florida is seeing new transmission cases of the virus.

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In Georgia, there are currently 58 travel-related cases.

With afternoon summer storms picking up locally, the Department of Health echoed what a CDC and Department of Education webinar pushed Friday.  The need to remove all standing water potential breeding grounds around homes and children’s schools. Buckets, trash cans, tires, tall grasses and playground equipment can all become mosquito breeding grounds.  Those potential breeding grounds can all be avoided if we quickly “tip and toss” especially after rain events.

“Anything that does not need to be collecting water in the yard should be tossed,” Kumnick stated. “Those containers, planters etc. that we would like in our yard, we need to be actively tipping them as we have the rain events.”

The two types of mosquitos known to transmit Zika are at a low count on the Savannah coast and in Columbus.

“Yes we might have those mosquitos present, but without Zika virus present then they are more on the nuisance end,” said Kumnick.

Parents are also encouraged to put repellant on their children that contains the ingredient deet.  First put sunblock on your child followed by an EPA registered product that will repel mosquitos.