SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning
May 13 through June 6, just in time
for warmer weather, Chicagoans will take notice of the 4.5-ft. by
4-ft. by 10.5-ft. mosquito perched atop the bus shelter at State
and Lake Streets. The effort is part of a public awareness campaign
to educate Chicagoans about the potentially deadly diseases the
"World's Deadliest" insect can spread, and aims to provide tips for
preventing exposure and transmission.
In addition to the mosquito, the bus shelter will feature facts
comparing the impact of mosquitoes against some of nature's threats
more commonly viewed as the deadliest in the world. Additional
sidewalk display panels will appear across Chicago to promote the campaign and highlight
the threat posed by mosquitoes through the spread of disease,
including the West Nile and Zika viruses. Locations include:
Michigan and Chicago Avenues; Michigan Ave. and Van Buren St.;
Michigan Ave. and Monroe St.; and Western Ave. and Harrison St. The
panels direct viewers to a website, www.mosquito-awareness.com,
where they can learn more about how to protect their families and
communities as mosquito season arrives and populations explode.
"We really wanted to capture people's attention with the
larger-than-life mosquito and use the stopping power as an
opportunity to educate the public about issues that can affect
their health," said John Neberz, Business Manager, Vector Division
at Central Life Sciences. The Schaumburg-based company is a leading
manufacturer of insect-control solutions, and it developed the
campaign to help promote public awareness. The campaign also
provides mosquito abatement professionals with free posters, door
hangers and pamphlets to use within their communities.
He continued, "Especially with the advent of emerging diseases
such as Zika, in addition to already established ones such as West
Nile and Chikungunya, it's important for families to do everything
they can to increase their knowledge about protecting themselves.
This includes better understanding the essential role of mosquito
abatement and public health officials, and knowing who they can
contact in their community."
Mosquitoes pick up and carry disease pathogens and can transmit
them to humans through their bites. Individuals including the very
young, elderly and those with chronic diseases could be at higher
risk of side effects from these diseases. The campaign provides
information on arboviruses including:
- Zika virus
- West Nile virus
- Dengue
- St. Louis Encephalitis virus
- Chikungunya
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV)
The bus shelter and other public displays were designed by local
advertising agency Celtic Chicago to create awareness about the
campaign and its central website, www.mosquito-awareness.com. The
website was launched with the goal of providing information and
tips about what families can do to help protect themselves from
mosquito-borne diseases and steps they can take to help stop them
from spreading. Visitors to the site can also access a custom
section where they enter their ZIP code to receive contact
information for the nearest mosquito abatement district and public
health department in their community, which they can contact to
learn about local control efforts. For mosquito abatement and
public health professionals, the site also features a portal to
request free educational resources customized with their logo and
information for use in their local communities.
There is also a link to the "World's Deadliest" Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/TheWorldsDeadliest which provides daily content
relevant to mosquito disease control and prevention and invites
users to join the conversation using #MosquitoThreat.
About Central Life Sciences
Central Life Sciences products are a part of Central Garden
& Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA). Central Life
Sciences is dedicated to creating healthier environments and making
life better for people, plants and companion animals around the
world. As inventors of insect growth regulator technology more than
35 years ago, the founders of Central Life Sciences pioneered
biorational pest control: using the insect's chemistry as a means
to reduce pest populations. To learn more about Central Life
Sciences, visit www.centrallifesciences.com or call
1-800-248-7763.
Central Life Sciences with design is a registered trademark of
Central Garden & Pet Company.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
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SOURCE Central Life Sciences