With mosquito season in full swing, concerns are mounting at the local level over what is being done to prevent the Zika virus from arriving in Chester County. State and local health officials have issued guidelines for residents to help monitor and understand the virus, writes Michael Rellahan for Daily Local News.

On Friday, U.S. Representative, Ryan Costello, joined fellow U.S. Representative, Susan Brooks of Indiana, in discussing the issue with Chester County health officials. The two met Jeanne Casner, Director of the county Health Department and other county officials for a discussion at the county Government Services Center.

Officials in Washington are already grappling with finding funds for a national effort to combat the virus, which can affect unborn children and cause serious birth defects.

The focus of the discussion was public education on how to prevent and recognize Zika. The spread of the virus is most commonly caused by a bite from an infected Aedes mosquito. The symptoms are very hard to detect and some infected individuals might not even know they are sick.

According to Casner, the county’s efforts to monitor for the virus bearing insects are up to speed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has so far recorded 691 cases of Zika associated with travel, although none in Chester County. The county also began spraying in East Coventry on Tuesday, to control the mosquito population.

“We are now working with the state DEP on our Zika-specific response plan which includes surveillance, testing, and importantly, communication about prevention and treatment,” commented Casner.

Read more about prevention efforts at Daily Local News here.