COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – State health officials say that it’s up to local governments to take the lead in battling mosquitoes that could carry the Zika virus.
Media outlets report lawmakers and others attending a forum in Columbia on Tuesday were told while the state is preparing for a Zika outbreak, one is not expected.
DHEC Director Catherine Heigel said local governments must take the lead in educating people on ways to eliminate mosquitoes in their yards.
The state has no statewide mosquito eradication program. Such programs are handled by municipalities and counties generally from the Midlands to the coast.
There’s only been one confirmed case of Zika in the state. The person who contracted it did so while traveling outside the country was not contagious when the person returned to the state.
