PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
Monday, June 13, 2016

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

NJ Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Visits Paterson WIC Clinic

Promotes #ZapZika Campaign

A State Health Department public education campaign is underway to explain the risk of the Zika virus to pregnant women, healthcare providers and those considering travel to Latin America and the Caribbean.

As part of the #ZapZika awareness campaign, on June 14, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Arturo Brito — a bilingual pediatrician — will meet with clients, pregnant women and staff at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare System Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office.  The event will begin at 10 a.m. at 185 6th Ave., 2nd floor, Paterson.

Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett kicked off the campaign in March at Montclair State University. The Commissioner and top physicians at the Department have visited community health centers, hospitals, professional medical societies and other venues to raise awareness of the Zika virus. The campaign also includes radio public service announcements in English and Spanish, along with NJ Transit bus advertising encouraging pregnant women to avoid travel to Zika-affected countries and travelers to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants.

The Department and the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) have partnered to open a call line for providers and the public available at 1-800-962-1253.

For more information, visit the Department’s Zika webpage at nj.gov/health/cd/zika/ or CDC’s Zika website at cdc.gov/zika.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth.

Last Reviewed: 6/13/2016