The Zika virus comes from infected mosquitoes called Aedes. They usually bite around the daytime, quite aggressively, in most cases it feels like an actual needle is poking through your skin. This species of mosquitoes are currently invading Florida, and are quickly spreading all around the world. Exactly one week ago Miami, Florida was advised that trucks carrying Buffalo Turbine were going to be spread around a 1.5 square mile infection zone, and that this experiment was going to continue for a month or so.

Soon after, the county decided to begin another spraying of insecticide called Naled. Residents and elected officials have been protesting this idea ever since the first set of spraying killed a middle aged woman’s bees. Millions and millions of her bees were poisoned from the insecticide and quickly died. County mayor Carlos Gimenez told the residents that state and federal officials assured it was safe. People refuse to believe the officials and are worried for their lives because they don’t want to be poisoned or killed like the bees.

In Gilbert, Arizona, because of all the many trees and pollution, it is very infested with mosquitoes. With the Zika virus and the mosquitoes spreading quickly around the United States, residents here are worried and planning to take action to not be infected. Environmental science teacher at Perry High School, Jill Irvin has set up mosquito traps all around the school, hoping to reduce the amount of mosquitoes swarming our school. I talked to Irvin and she told me traps were put all over the school with yucky smells and sticky poo to attract the mosquitoes, and would then be investigated to see what kinds of eggs come out, and determine the species.

Because this new virus is so dispersed around the United States, it is important to stay alert and protect yourself. Just by getting bitten, the virus can cause many different types of illnesses, such as fevers, skin rashes, body pain, and other related symptoms. These symptoms can last from 1-2 weeks, but it’s better to not get any of them at all.