Dallas

Spring Break Could End in More Zika Cases

Spring break could end with a big spike in the number of imported cases of the Zika virus in North Texas.

"It is possible to bring Zika home back into the United States," said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. "And after spring break, I mean, we've got thousands and thousands of people visiting all over the place, so that can happen."

Travelers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport could soon start seeing signs from Tarrant County Public Health, which feature a smartphone code that links to information about the virus.

"We're in conversations with all kinds of public locations and we're trying to get these out to wherever we can," said Taneja.

Dallas Love Field doesn't offer international flights, but does offer information about the virus on its website.

Dallas County Health and Human Services will soon start going door-to-door in selected neighborhoods, passing out information about the virus.

"We're going to be looking at poverty in those ZIP codes, as well as other areas where we're seeing travelers coming back from those endemic countries," said Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson.

Spring breakers and others traveling from countries where the Zika virus is being transmitted are urged to continue wearing mosquito repellent here in North Texas.

"We want to make sure that you don't pass it on to the mosquitoes," said Thompson.

"Even if you may not have any symptoms," added Taneja, "the virus may be circulating in your blood, so if you get bit by mosquitoes, it can then get into the mosquito population here and start spreading to other individuals."

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