Agriculture Department Makes Zika PSAs Available to Media

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan has declared April 23-29 “Zika Virus Disease Awareness Week” in Maryland. As part of the state’s Zika Awareness campaign, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has produced a series of seven 30-second PSAs to help residents identify and eliminate possible mosquito breeding zones in and around their property.

The most effective way to fight Zika virus is to prevent mosquito bites, and the best to avoid mosquito bites is to eliminate areas where mosquitoes lay eggs. The species of mosquito that carries Zika virus breeds in containers of standing water rather than marshlands. Items like lawn furniture, corrugated drain pipes, flower pots, children’s toys and a variety of common household items can quickly become mosquito breeding grounds.

The PSAs are available for download in audio and video format at mda.maryland.gov/Zika. Streaming versions are also available via YouTube and SoundCloud.

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