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Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. President and CEO Amanda Aguirre stated that; “We want to make sure that the families and the border communities get the right information.”

Yuma, Arizona.- In order to inform the Yuma County community about the Zika Virus, how to prevent the disease and what is the current situation in regards to traveling outside the United States, the Regional Center for Border Health, Inc./San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc. will host several free educational sessions.

Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. President and CEO Amanda Aguirre stated that; “We want to make sure that the families and the border communities get the right information,” in particularly the families that travel to Latin American countries or have relatives visiting from those countries.

The meetings will be conducted in both English and Spanish by Medical providers in order to cover all the public needs.

According to Dr. Charlotte Richards, Obstetrician/Gynecologist with San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc., the best prevention for viral illnesses such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika are avoidance of mosquito bites. 

“Some prevention tactics would be avoiding open bodies of standing water, wearing clothing that covers all exposed skin and using insecticide containing DEET.”, said Dr. Richards.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

“Zika virus is the most worrisome of all these viruses because it has been linked to a severe birth defect of babies called microcephalus,” explained Dr. Richards, and added “75% of all people infected do not know they have had the infection. The other 25% have a fleeting illness.”

During the education sessions hosted by Regional Center for Border Health, Inc./San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc. the public will be provided with information on:

• What is Zika?
• What does it cause?
• How to prevent it?
• How to treat it?
• What can travelers do to prevent Zika?

The sessions will take place as follows:

-Tuesday March 8^th, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Somerton Branch Library, located at 240 Canal Street, Somerton, AZ 85350. Phone 928-627-2149.

-Wednesday March 9^th, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the San Luis Branch Library, located at 1075 N. 6th Ave., San Luis, AZ 85349. Phone 928-627-8344.

For more information about the RCBH please contact Mrs. Mariajose Almazan, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO at (928) 627-9222 or by e-mail at mrincon@rcfbh.org.