Canutillo Residents Learn Of Storm’s Health Hazards

EL PASO, TX. — Somestudents with the El Paso Community College are teaming up with the City County Health District to encourage good health practices in one of the areas hardest hit by last week’s storms.

Armed with information provided by local health officials, students with the school’s HealthDepartmentare visiting residents in Canutillo and offering instruction on how to deal with the potential hazards left behind by rains and flooding.

One big concern is standing water, which allows for the breeding of mosquitoes and harmful bacteria.

The county recently recorded its first case of the season of West Nile disease, and the students have instructed Canutillo residents to get rid of standing water in pots, old tires and the like. They’ve explained that larvae of the mosquito can hatch in just a small amount of water.

Other hazards involve spiders and snakes which may come out of hiding after heavy rains. Other concerns include water runoff, which can transport water contaminated with chemicals, toxins and animal feces into neighborhoods.

“Through prevention, we can educate people about certain diseases,” one volunteer said.

Many Canutillo residents have said they appreciate the assistance the students have provided.