The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are working to increase the awareness and understanding of the Zika virus, particularly among women of childbearing age.

The most common way to contract the Zika virus is from the bite of an infected mosquito. Below is a list of resources providing additional information regarding the virus, methods of transmission, and steps one can take to avoid contracting it:

“Zika Precautions for Women” is a new publication outlining the most important steps women can take to protect themselves and their unborn children from Zika.  Protecting women is the top priority for public health agencies this summer:
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/files/2016/06/Ento-053-Zika-Precautions-for-Women.pdf.

“What Texans Need to Know About Zika Virus” provides some general information about Zika, what causes it, whether you should be worried, and how to stop it:
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/files/2016/06/ENTO-052-What-Texans-Need-to-Know-about-Zika.pdf (English).
http://www.agrilifebookstore.org/Lo-que-deben-saber-EL-VIRUS-DEL-ZIKA-p/ento-052s.htm (Spanish).

“Mosquitoes and the Diseases they Transmit” offers an overview of all important disease carrying mosquitoes in Texas:
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/files/2010/04/ENTO-040-Mosquitoes-and-diseases.pdf (English).
http://www.agrilifebookstore.org/product-p/ento-040s.htm (Spanish).

“Buzz Off” is a short reminder of the “4 Ds,” the four ways to avoid mosquito bites; it is a quick safety reminder for yourself, friends, and family:
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/files/2016/07/ENTO-055-Buzz-Off-flier.pdf.

“Do-it-Yourself Backyard Mosquito Control” provides an overview of all the mosquito control options available to consumers, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and what we know and don?t know about the many products out there.  (Spoiler alert: don’t buy bug zappers):
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/files/2016/07/ENTO-054-DIY-Backyard-Mosquito-Control.pdf.