Mosquito season is here and the City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) is reminding the public to take precautions. All pregnant women in Laredo/Webb and Zapata Counties should be tested for Zika virus in the first and second trimesters of their pregnancy. Also, anyone with a rash and at least one other common Zika symptom (fever, joint pain or eye redness) should also be tested for Zika virus. For women who are not pregnant, we recommend taking preventive measures with some form of birth control and everyone should take the following mosquito control measures:
To assist with prevention the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has approved repellant purchase as of May 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 and you do not need a prescription for most persons. The following persons qualify under these programs:
Pregnant women of any age, women and girls ages 10-55, and males 14 and older, as applicable, in the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- CHIP-Perinatal
- Healthy Texas Women
- Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program
- Family Planning Program
Benefit details:
- One can/bottle of mosquito repellent is permitted per pharmacy, with one refill allowed per month.
- Mosquito repellent won’t count against the monthly three prescription limit for those clients with a monthly limit.
- There is no cost to Medicaid or Healthy Texas Women clients (for those enrolled at the City of Laredo Health Department you can you can obtain repellant at the Women’s Health Clinic at 2600 Cedar)
- CHIP members may pay the generic copay or less if the cost of the repellent is less than the copay.
- Many pharmacies can provide you mosquito repellent without a prescription from your doctor. Contact your favorite pharmacy to make sure they are participating in this benefit.
To find your pharmacy’s phone number, you can use the Pharmacy Search on the following website: https://www.txvendordrug.com.
- If you are enrolled in managed care, please refer to that health plan’s website, or call the Member Services number on the back of your Member ID card.
- If your pharmacy recommends getting a prescription, or you are enrolled in CSHCN, contact your healthcare provider, and then ask them to send a prescription to your pharmacy. Your provider can send a prescription to your pharmacy.
- For those enrolled at the City of Laredo Health Department you can you can obtain repellant at the Women’s Health Clinic at 2600 Cedar
Remember
- Use mosquito repellent when outside
- Wear long sleeves and pants
- Use air conditioning and make sure window screens are properly installed and maintained
- Pick up trash and dump out containers holding standing water around their homes
- Cover gutters and drains with netting
- Report abandoned unkempt yards and illegal tire dumping
For more information on Zika call the CLHD Epidemiology Division at (956) 795-4951or link to
Department of State Health Services: www.TexasZika.org and www.TexasZika.org/prevention or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/zika/