As Valley locals worry about the Zika virus spreading to their neighborhoods, Phoenix officials are monitoring the advance and preparing to prevent an outbreak in Phoenix.
As of Sept. 21, there have been 29 confirmed cases of Zika reported in Arizona, all of which are travel-associated cases where the victims were infected elsewhere and came here. Arizona contains around one percent of the travel associated cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although there are currently no known cases in Phoenix, the Zika Virus has jumped into the limelight nationally as a medical emergency. An update was given on Tuesday to discuss plans to prevent an emergency in Phoenix. Currently, the Phoenix Fire Department along with Maricopa County is working with Arizona State Health departments on a plan to protect against Zika if it ever comes to Phoenix.
The plan suggested by David Leinenveber, the Public Health Programs Manager for the Phoenix Fire Department and the Homeland Defense Bureau, is to push Congress for more money for the county health department.
“We partner every day with the county health department. They’re a great lead, they work very hard, very diligently, for the education on mosquitos, for the education of the people,” Leinenveber said.
According to Leinenveber, the county health department needs more funding to help protect against the spread of diseases like Zika and for other more common local health concerns.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health was unavailable for comment.
Lisa Jones,director of the city of Phoenix Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, plans to add the problem of general funding to the 2017 federal agenda.
Zika’s only chance of entrance into the Phoenix area in the foreseeable future is people returning from infected regions, carrying the virus within themselves. Phoenix released a list of ways for prevention of contracting Zika, which include avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants, using screens and air conditioning to keep mosquitos out, removing pools of standing water where mosquitos can breed and by not traveling to infected regions.
The symptoms of Zika include a fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes, although some won’t experience any symptoms at all. Though there is not much known about the long-term effects on adults, it can be dangerous if contracted during pregnancy. The Zika virus has been linked to microcephaly, a disease that prevents unborn babies from fully developing their brains and heads, according to the CDC.
Maricopa County has had mosquito problems in the past which bring worry for some city leaders. District 8 Councilwoman Kate Gallego expressed her concerns of future risk Phoenix might be in.
“Those of us that represent a district that have had mosquito problems in the past are always nervous, especially if you look at the charts of where Zika might be next year. We are not in one of the regions now, but that does not mean we won’t be,” Gallego said.
Arizona State University student Kyle Heiss said that he gets a lot of mosquito bites from playing intramural football and is slightly worried if mosquitos in Phoenix start carrying the virus.
“The Zika Virus doesn’t really worry me that much because it isn’t here yet,” Heiss said. “I do get second thoughts about the bug bites after my football games though.”
Contact the reporter at victor.ren@asu.edu
