Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz works to fight Zika virus locally

Efforts continue in the fight to stop the spread of the Zika virus.

Our local U.S. representative, Dr. Raul Ruiz, took a tour of the Coachella Valley Mosquito Vector Control District Monday morning as a part of his effort to fight the virus.

Ruiz authored a bipartisan letter, signed by 61 of his colleagues, to urge House Speaker Paul Ryan to vote on emergency funding to fight the Zika virus.

He said it’s only a matter of time before we see the virus in the Coachella Valley.

“Mosquitoes do not respect county lines, do not respect state borders, they don’t respect vector control districts,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser with the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

Ruiz met with local leaders to address the Zika virus threat.

“Timing is of the essence and emergency funding needs to appropriated to mitigate any potential damaging effects,” Ruiz said.

He’s asking for $1.9 billion for vaccine research, public education, vector control and other initiatives.

While the mosquitoes that carry the virus aren’t in the Coachalla Valley, there are reports of the invasive Aedes mosquitos being found as close as the city of San Jacinto.

That’s why the congressman said this meeting is so important.

“In order to eliminate the chance of finding the Zika virus, that’s where this funding comes into place, so they can pull from it when it comes here,” Ruiz said.

He toured the district offices, learning what’s being done to stop the Zika virus from coming here.

The district already set traps, specifically targeting the species of mosquito which carries the virus, across the valley.

But if the virus gets here, that’s when it gets expensive.

“If we had some immense outbreak across the city, we could go through millions of dollars in a few weeks. It’s very expensive to control once something happens so prevention is the best,” said Jeremy Wittie the general manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Health officials said the problem with Zika is how to detect it.

“The problem with Zika is its really hard to monitor. Most people who have it, don’t develop symptoms, those who do have really mild symptoms,” Kaiser said.

With spring break and summer vacations coming up, health officials urge anyone traveling to areas with Zika to take extra precautions.

Even if you don’t travel, there’s things you can do at home to stop them from getting here.

“Reduce that standing water and take the protective measures they can around the home, limiting their exposure and limiting their sources,” Wittie said.

Experts with mosquito and vector control said public awareness is the most important way to fight these viruses.

They’re hosting a 5K run, walk at the La Quinta Civic Center Park on April 17 to get the work out about mosquitoes and mosquito-transmitted diseases.