May 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 62

Z I K A A N D PA R K S

from storm drains to rooftops. They are also covering trash receptacles and
working with their county
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ZIKA WITH THE 3-D'S.
solid waste management
division to encourage faster, more efficient disposal of trash that can hold
water, such as abandoned
DRAIN
DRESS
DEET
tires. The parks and recreation department has
> Once a week empty items
> As weather permits, dress
> Spray exposed skin with
that hold water such as
in long pants and long
a repellant containing
trained park staff on best
flower pots, toys, or trash.
sleeve shirts.
DEET or other EPA labeled
repellant.
methods of personal pro> Keep your yard trimmed
> Make sure doors and
and tidy.
window screens are in
> Follow label instructions;
tection and has developed
good repair.
reapply as needed.
> Help your neighbors drain
public-facing messages as
standing water.
> Use air conditioning when
> A mosquito net will protect
well. They now distribavailable.
babies in a stroller or car seat.
ute trilingual handouts at
For more information, visit us at www.houstontx.gov, call 311
park entrance gates, the
or Harris County Mosquito Control District 713.440.4800.
zoo and after school to
parents.
Houston, Texas, has adopted " 3D Zika Defense " tactics to inform the public about the
The Recreation Commission of
dangers of Zika virus. Informational cards like the one seen here are posted and distributEast Baton Rouge (BREC) says it
ed at public facilities, including parks and recreation centers.
does not post public safety messages
for Zika, but it does discuss possible
to manage adaptively, but we are
What Does Zika Mean for
hazards and provide insect repellents
definitely getting ready. " The sceParks and Recreation?
for program participants at the benario for which they have begun to
Even though the range of Aedes mosginning of conservation education
plan is that once mosquitoes start
quitoes has rapidly expanded northprograms in its nature parks. Carolyn
breeding in large numbers, local A.
ward, most park and recreation agenMcKnight, superintendent of BREC,
aegypti mosquitoes will bite an incies have not yet taken the threat of
says her agency is in the initial stages
fected traveler and then transmit the
Zika seriously. However, a number of
of understanding and managing Zika
disease to humans locally. He says,
agencies in the south and along the
and the more information it receives
" We must all take responsibility to
Gulf Coast are already well along in
the better its response can be.
ensure that no child is born with
planning and activating their role in
Other agencies queried in the
microcephaly. "
Zika response.
known habitat areas of A. aegypti
When asked if parks and recreJoe Maguire, natural areas managmosquitoes had varying degrees of
ation can be part of the response
er for Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation
knowledge and readiness for the poto the threat of Zika, Persse says,
and Open Spaces, says his agency is
tential threat of Zika. One clear need
" Oh yeah! " Persse described how
fully engaged in addressing the threat
that park and recreation agencies exHouston has established an Incident
posed by the Zika virus. " We are the
pressed was that they did not know if
Command Structure, a multi-agency
agency that meets with a lot of the
these mosquitoes are present in their
quick-response action approach that
public, " says Maguire, " and we take
jurisdiction and in their parks. Mutebi
is initiated in times of public safety
this responsibility seriously. "
says this is a critical piece of knowlemergencies. Houston's task force is
Miami-Dade has instructed staff
edge. " Are these mosquitoes in your
composed of public works, fire, housto aggressively work to clean up any
parks or not? " He says it is important
ing, finance and parks and recreation,
sources of standing water in parks by
to do surveillance, and that park and
as well as other agencies that are parlocating and draining small containers
recreation agencies should be working
ticipating in the response along with
that could hold water. They promote a
with their local mosquito control units
Harris County, which overlies much
" drain and cover " message to staff and
and request that parks be included in
of the city.
the public and are looking at everything
the areas where traps are placed.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ZIKA WITH THE 3-D'S.

60	 Parks & Recreation

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May 2016 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2016 - Parks & Recreation
