Watch Now: Zika Prevention Linked to Mosquito Control (Infographic)

(Image: Following up on a call from a homeowner, a mosquito control inspector from Miami-Dade County, Carlos Varas, visits a local home to examine a possible breeding ground for mosquitoes.)

With the start of the rainy season, health experts fear that South Florida’s sub-tropical climate could provide a fertile breeding ground for Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the Zika virus.

Zika, already prevalent in much of Latin America and the Caribbean, is believed to cause microcephaly when contracted in pregnancy. This is a serious birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and other health concerns. The Zika virus has been linked to thousands of cases of recent birth defects in Brazil.

South Florida has about 45 types of mosquitoes, including those that also carry several other diseases, dengue fever, West Nile Virus, encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, dog heartworm and others. Mosquitoes can breed in standing water that is as small as a bottle top. That’s why it’s important for area residents to take steps to prevent the spread of mosquitoes during rainy season and year-round. (Please see the infographics below.)

Inspectors from Miami-Dade County recently examined one local property for signs of a mosquito infestation. The Baptist Health South Florida News Team followed along during the inspection and spoke to experts from Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control unit. Watch now.

Miami-Dade County has launched a “Drain and Cover” campaign that encourages all residents to drain standing water from all outside vessels and to cover up with protective clothing when outdoors.