A recent press
release from the governor's office describes the Zika awareness campaign
launched at Bradley International Airport on June 17. The campaign was created by the Department of
Public Health (DPH), Connecticut Airport Authority, federal Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), and JetBlue.
Its target audience is JetBlue passengers flying to and from San Juan,
Puerto Rico, but other passengers are likely to come across the posters,
pamphlets, and public service announcements (PSAs) that make up the campaign.
Two sets of
posters have been placed on JetBlue's jet bridges and baggage carousel. One set of posters warn departing passengers
of the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and list steps for avoiding mosquito bites. Other posters advise arriving passengers of
the symptoms to watch out for and to seek treatment if any symptoms arise. DPH has created a wallet-sized, fold out
pamphlet with Zika information that is being given to passengers boarding
flights to San Juan. PSAs featuring Lt.
Governor Nancy Wyman and DPH Commissioner Raul Pino are also playing on
monitors in the TSA passenger screening areas.
According
to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 935 people have tested positive for Zika in
the United States as of June 29, 2016.
According to DPH,
22 people have tested positive for Zika in Connecticut as of June 29,
2016. Three of them were pregnant
women. Another 11 people have tested
positive for flavivirus, which includes several mosquito- and tick-borne
viruses, including Zika. Medical tests
could not distinguish between Zika and these other viruses. Seven of the 11 cases were pregnant women.
