2016

Second Nine Weeks Honor Students
            Mrs. Angela Cossey and the faculty and staff of Woodland Elementary School are proud to announce the second nine weeks honors students.
Mrs. Melisha Simmons’s Kindergarten:
Perfect Attendance: Niome Muse and Cade Smith
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Xavier Asbury, Ethan Campbell, Braylon Chockley Zoey Ferrell, Gabe Fiermonte, Macie Foster, Aubrey Laxton, McKenzie Locklear, Aidan McClure, Emily Mooneyham, Niome Muse, Joshua Powell, Cade Smith, Jack Taylor, Mason Thomason, and Ryder Vance.
 
Mrs. MaryBeth Young’s Kindergarten:
Perfect Attendance: Brody Franklin, Vanessa Lopez, and Tucker Witty
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Carly Alexander, Peyton Davenport, Brody Franklin, Dean Harrell, Samuel Krietzman, Vanessa Lopez, Bella Mason, Gracie Nichols, Kale Sellars, Meadow Walls, and Tucker Witty.
 
Mrs. Julie Hackney’s First Grade:
Perfect Attendance: Chloe Adcock, Hannah Pitts, and Conner Smith
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Chloe Adcock, Abigail Cook, Xander Cornelison, Haley Frame, Weston Lovett, Ava Martin, James McGee, Braeleigh Parker, Emily Parker, Aubrey Phillips, Hannah Pitts, Baylee Sissom, Conner Smith, Lane Southworth, Kail Spray, and Rylee Tucker.
 
Mrs. Alice Whittle’s First Grade:
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Sara Austin, Waylon Crawford, Colton Gater, Amber Heisey, Madelyn Morales, Marlee Owen, Talmon Scott, Katelynn Smyth, Gunner Stout, Alexander Williamson and Ryan Zuppa
 
Ms. Larna Martindale’s Second Grade:
Perfect Attendance: Layla Barrett
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Mathew Austin, Layla Barrett, Jordyn Beaty, Madilyne England, Haylee Foulk, Jag Gamberella, Carlie Gannon, Chance Gilliam, Luis Gonzalez, Joshua Johnson, Kyle Judkins, Page Mohler, Kendra Murphy, Cayden Onate, Christian Perez, Ava Roberts, Holly Robinson, Adlen Sissom, Brayden Smithson, and Andrew Stratton
 
Mrs. Maria Vickers’s Second Grade:
Perfect Attendance: Jaysie Hackney, Carson Henderson, Mylee Schwartz, and Taylor Strawser
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Brooklyn Bowman, Paul Clark, Ziya Dillard, Jaysie Hackney, Carson Henderson, Kiana Henley, Samuel Holloway, Kenneth Kennedy, Kyleigh Lowery, Makenna Luttrell, Allie Melton, Brooklyn Parker, Lukas Phillips, Carson Powell, Mylee Schwartz, Aiden Smith, Ian Smith, Landon Smith, Brett Smithson, Taylor Strawser, Braylynn Taylor, Jaylynn Taylor, Eli Vassar, and Ashton Witty.
 
Mrs. Amber Phillip’s Third Grade:
Principal’s List: Abbi Davis and Kathryn Trail
Honor Roll: Lia Bedwell and Jacob Smith
Merit List: Candon Choate, Mckenzie Merritt, Georgia Wells, and Cadence Witty
Perfect Attendance: Abbi Davis
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Brooklyn Batson, Lia Bedwell, Jesse Campbell, Candon Choate, Garrett Crawford, Abbie Davis, Boone Elrod, Ethan England, Kattie Lack, Mason Lowe, Krista Marren, Mckenzie Merritt, Liliana Pope, Jacob Smith, Kassandra Smyth, Kylea Sullivan, Kathryn Trail, Georgia Wells, and Cadence Witty
 
Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade:
Principal’s List: Katherine Fann, Madison Foster, Thomas McGee, Haley Hutson, Lakelyn Kilpatrick, and Madi Leath
Honor Roll: Bennett Kauffman, Foster Kemp, and Brennon Parker
Merit List: Aubrianna McKee, Joey Puffenbarger, and Connor Williamson
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Rihanna Edmondson, Katie Beth Fann, Madison Foster, Alexys Gamberella, Kaylie Hill, Haley Hutson, Bennett Kauffman, Foster Kemp, Lakelyn Kilpatrick, ,Madi Leath, Thomas McGee, Landyn Murphy, Brennon Parker, Caleb Price, Joey Puffenbarger, Connor Williamson, and Izabell Young
 
Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade:
Principal’s List: Jenna Bush, Mattea Ciramella, Ashlan Reed, Jacob Robinson, and Reese Vance
Honor Roll: Cassidy McTaggart and Lola Odom
Merit List: Chloe Cobb, Luke Cook, and Austin Foster
Perfect Attendance: Reese Vance
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Chris Alfaro, Jenna Bush, Mattea Ciramella, Chloe Cobb, Luke Cook, Cody Dubroc, Austin Foster, Gavin Fly-Franks, Gavin Franklin, Virginia Hernandez, ernandez, HerAlexia Kennedy, Noah Maddox, Riley McGuire, Lola Odom, Ashlan Reed, Jacob Robinson, and Reese Vance.
 
Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth Grade:
Principal’s List: Emily Lopez and George Seybold
Honor Roll: Zowee Dillard
Merit List: A. J. Armstrong, Autumn Casteel, and Tucker Horsley
Perfect Attendance: Zowee Dillard, Destiny Hiles, and Tucker Horsley
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: A. J. Armstrong, Korbin Bain, Brianna Bowman, Austin Bush, Autumn Casteel, Zowee Dillard, Carson Farrar, Kathrin Garcia, Destiny Hiles, Jordan Hill, Tucker Horsley, Logan Inge, Blake Knight, Emily Lopez, Lucio Lowery, Alexis McClure, Kaia Robinson, George Seybold, and Waylon Southworth
 
Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade:
Principal’s List: Shelby Duggin, Gunter Pitts, Ethan Powell, and Toby Tucker
Honor Roll: Jerry Carlton, Taylor Ross, and Ella Simmons
Merit List: Shaeley Edwards, D. J. Moore, Connor Rodgers, and Rachel Smartt
Perfect Attendance: D. J .Moore, Ella Simmons, and Junior Strawser
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Cady Childs, Anita Chittaphong, Brady Davis, Shelby Duggin, Shaeley Edwards, Jonathan Fann, Hannah Jo Foulk, Faith Kilgore, Jessie Mohler, D. J. Moore, Gunter Pitts, Ethan Powell, Taylor Ross, Ella Simmons, Rachel Smartt, Junior Strawser, and Toby Tucker
 
Mrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade:
Honor Roll: Ashlyn Garbison, Bryant Robinson, and Houston Witty
Merit List: Brody Morris, Bryant Robinson, and Kayla Wilson
Perfect Attendance: Austin Ferrell and Brody Morris
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Hannah Bowman, Rose Davis, Austin Ferrell, Hanna Foster, Ashlyn Garbison, Jadon Henderson, Chantz Inge, Konnor Lorance, Josh Mingle, Brody Morris, Tyson Pope, Cassie Ramsey, Bryant Robinson, Kalyn West, Kelton Wilkes, Kayla Wilson, and Houston Witty
 
 
Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade:
Principal’s List: Ava Bond
Honor Roll: Nolan Bell, Carter Cawthorn, Walker Cawthorn, Rebecca Green, Kooper Nemeth, and Dathan Stanley
Merit List: Kailey Bowman, Parker Cawthorn, Kayelyse Strawser, and Jacob Walton.
Perfect Attendance: Kayelyse Strawser
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Garett Basham, Nolan Bell, Ava Bond, Hailey Bowman, Carter Cawthorn, Parker Cawthorn, Walker Cawthorn, Karli Davenport, Anthony Garcia, Rebecca Green, Kooper Nemeth, Jadyn Romines, Dathan Stanley, Kayelyse Strawser, and Jacob Walton
 
Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade:
Principal’s List: Kaylee Armstrong, Jalin Fann, Natalie Heisey, Karen Lopez, Michaela Sellars, Maleah Sissom, and Cassidy Taylor
Honor Roll: Maci Sellars and Chloe Thomas
Perfect Attendance: Kaylee Armstrong, Jalin Fann,  and Chloe Thomas
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Kaylee Armstrong, Kolby Duke, Jalin Fann, Jackson Farrar, Natalie Heisey, Emma Grace Hughes, Karen Lopez, Michael Lowery, Addisyn Milner, Braxton Parker, Charles Powell, Dillion Pyron, Maci Sellars, Michaela Sellars, Maleah Sissom, Cassidy Taylor, Dylan Taylor, Chloe Thomas, and Ellianna Young.
 
Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade:
Principal’s List: Macey Ciramella, Bradi Mason, and Addison Melton
Perfect Attendance: Dalton Coppinger, Eric Estrada, Maria Funes, Wesley George, Alex Horsley, and Hunter Hutson.
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Macey Ciramella, Dalton Coppinger, Brady Davenport, Hunter Davis, Maria Funes, Wesley George, Alex Horsley, Hunter Hutson, Bradi Mason, Addison Melton, Hunter Owen, Lori Pittard, and Autumn S. Young
 
Mr. Brandon Parsley’s Seventh Grade:
Principal’s List: Madison Arnold, Brady Bryson, Cassie George, and Shelby Smithson
Honor Roll: Tyler Southworth
Merit List: Dalton Hale and Shelby Reed
Perfect Attendance: Destiny Leath
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Lindsey Arnold, Madison Arnold, Lexi Browning, Brady Bryson, Jasmine Bush, Jack Davis, Dalton Fox, Cassie George, Dalton Hale, Chloe Haulty, Destiny Leath, Kelsi Mears, Maleah Millner, Shelby Reed, Kaleb Ryan, Shelby Smithson, Tyler Southworth, and Heather Wilson
 
Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade:
Principal’s List: Caroline Blanton, Madison Blanton, Lily Brazle, Jessie Kauffman, Rachel Laxton, and Kaitlynn Trail
Honor Roll: Kallie Kemp
Merit List: Damian England, Joel Smith, and McKayla Walton
Perfect Attendance: Lily Brazle, Trinity Muse, Derrin Reeder, and Joel Smith.
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Caroline Blanton, Madison Blanton, Lily Brazle, Seth Brown, Damian England, Jessie Frazier, Creighton Garbison, Jessie Kauffman, Kallie Kemp, Rachel Laxton, Dalton Mears, Trinity Muse, Joe Overcast, McKenna Powell, Joel Smith, Samantha Strait, Kaitlynn Trail, and McKayla Walton.
 
Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade:
Principal’s List: Blake Bush, Kristin Fann, Abbie Judkins, Sadie Jones, and Austin Powell
Honor Roll: Brent Hastings, Rebekah Kavouklis, Jackson Simmons, Anna Grace Sissom, and Zoe Witty
Merit List: Silas Choate, Kelsie Foster, and Kaleigh Lamb
Perfect Attendance: Jackson Simmons, Jayda Smith, and Zoe Witty
A.R.R.R.O.W. Club: Jordan Bean, Rockwell Bond, Abigail Buchanan, Blake Bush, Chris Cancino, Silas Choate, Hayden Cobb, Blake Davis, Kristin Fann, Kelsie Foster, Sadie Jones, Abbie Judkins, Rebekah Kavouklis, Kaleigh Lamb, Jessica McCrory, Austin Powell, Jackson Simmons, Anna Grace Sissom, Jayda Smith, and Zoe Witty

The Woodbury Town Mayor and Board Of Aldermen meet for their regular monthly meeting Tuesday night..  On the agenda is a public hearing concerning ordinance number 477 which is a ordinance to rezone certain particles listed with in the ordinance to the R-2 and C-3 zoning districts.  Then the Aldermen will consider the adoption of the ordinance on second and final reading.  The meeting starts at 7:00 and will take place at the Dude Northcutt Building formerly known as City Hall.
 

UT Extension Cannon County has signed up to be a distributor of free trees through the Tennessee Environmental Council.  They have 100 trees coming to the office for the community. Please plan to stop by the office on Friday February 26and pick up a free tree or a couple and get your family out planting trees on Saturday February 27th
While supplies last, seedling packages include equal number of Virginia Pine, Shumard Oak, Red Bud, Flowering Dogwood and Yellow Popular.
For more information contact: Shavon Ward at the Cannon County UT Extension office at 615-563-2554.

Representatives from the Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Ted Cruz Presidential campaigns will be at the Cannon County Courthouse Monday night as the Cannon County Republican Party is hosting a Presidential candidate meeting.  The representatives will speak briefly about each candidate and answer questions from the audience.  They will also have campaign signs, stickers and other information available for voters.  The meeting takes place Monday night at 6:00. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Cannon County’s unemployment rate for December is 5.3 percent, unchanged from November’s unemployment rate.  Out of an estimated work force of 6,070 people, 5,740 people are employed while 320 are unemployed.  Most of the surrounding counties reported a small change from November.  Coffee Counties dropped one tenth of a percentage point to 5.1 percent.  Dekalb County is at 6.7 percent, Rutherford is at 4 percent while Warren’s unemployment rate comes in at 5.3 percent.  Wilson County is the second lowest unemployment rate of the the surrounding counties at 4.3 percent.  Last year’s unemployment rate at this time was at 5.7 percent in Cannon County
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month’s revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 5.0 percent, unchanged from November.
 

The Cannon County Grammar School Basketball season has come to a close and postseason begins Monday night with the Cannon County Grammar School Basketball Tournament.  The number one and two seeds get a first round bye after finishing first and second during the regular season.  In the girls bracket.  Woodland enters the tournament as the number one seed.  They finished the season with a county record of 10-0.  Auburntown girls finished second with an 8-2 mark.  Monday the tournament gets started with a girls game as the number 3 seed Woodbury Grammar School Lady Cubs who finished 5-5 meet the sixth seed Eastside Lady Tigers who finished 1-9.  The second game of the tournament will have the Woodbury Boys team taking on Eastside at 5:45.  The next set of games features the number 4 and number 5 seeded teams in both girls and boys .  Westside girls will meet Short Mountain with the tip off slated around 7:00  Short Mountain boys will meet Auburntown at 8:15.  In the boys division of the tournament Westside is the number one seed with a perfect 10-0 record while Woodland finished second with a 7-3 record.  All games will be played at Robert A Harris Gymnasium at Cannon County High School.

February 1st—4th—6th—county elementary basketball tournament, CCHS
February 1st-5th—School Counselor Week
February 2nd—CCHS basketball games with York Institute at Jamestown, 6:00 p.m.

February 4th—CCHS basketball games with Van Buren Co. at Spencer, 6:00 p.m.

February 5th—CCHS basketball games with Upperman at CCHS, 6:00 p.m.

February 5th—Professional Development Day for teachers—no school for students

February 8th—ACT night for parents at CCHS

February 8th-March 3rd—Part I of State Mandated Achievement testing—contact your school for more information

February 9th—CCHS basketball games with Livingston at Livingston, 6:00 p.m.

February 9th—School Board meeting workshop at the Central Office, 6:30 p.m.

February 11th—New Teachers training, 3:00 p.m., Central Office

February 11th—CCHS basketball games with Dekalb Co. at CCHS, 6:00 p.m.

February 11th—School Board meeting, Woodbury Grammar Cafeteria, 6:30 p.m.

February 12th—CCHS basketball games with Page at CCHS, 6:00p.m.

February 16th—18th—20th—B-team tournament, Auburn School Gymnasium

With avian influenza looming as a threat, Tennessee poultry producers are urged to keep a wary eye on their birds. This includes commercial producers as well as producers who keep small flocks in their backyards.

“Biosecurity means doing everything you can to protect your birds from disease,” says Dr. Lew Strickland, University of Tennessee Extension veterinarian. “As a bird owner, keeping your birds healthy is a top priority. Your birds can become sick or die from exposure to just a few unseen bacteria, viruses, or parasites. In a single day, these germs can multiply and infect all of your birds.”  

Strickland says if commercial and backyard producers will routinely perform some simple safety steps, they can decrease the risk of disease like avian influenza from entering their flocks and, once present, of persisting in soil, droppings and debris. “Practicing biosecurity is an investment in the health of your birds,” he said.

The basics of biosecurity boil down to these six steps:

1. Keep your distance.
2. Keep it clean.
3. Don’t haul disease home.
4. Don’t borrow disease from your neighbor.
5. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases.
6. Report sick birds.

Of these steps, Strickland says keeping an operation clean can be among the most daunting and demanding. “Wear clean clothes, scrub your shoes with disinfectant, and wash your hands thoroughly before entering your bird area.” Strickland says. “Also, clean cages and change food and water daily. Clean and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with your birds or their droppings, including cages and tools and remove manure before disinfecting.”  He adds that you must properly dispose of dead birds.

Strickland also says bird owners should know the warning signs of disease:

• Sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock
• Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and nasal discharge
• Watery and green diarrhea 
• Lack of energy and poor appetite
• Drop in egg production or soft- or thin-shelled misshapen eggs 

Another key to preventing the spread of infectious bird disease is prompt reporting. “If you think you have a problem,” says Strickland, “don’t wait. If your birds are sick or dying, call your local cooperative extension office, local veterinarian, the State Veterinarian, or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services office to report. USDA operates a toll-free hotline (1–866–536–7593) with veterinarians to help you.” Strickland says there is no charge for this service. The Tennessee State Veterinarian’s office can be reached by phone at 615-837-5120. 

Producers can also contact Strickland at 865-974-3538, or by email at  lstrick5@utk.edu and your Cannon County Extension Office at 615-563-2554.

February 15, 2016 is a critical deadline for three important requirements for Tennessee high school students who wish to attend Motlow State Community College and take advantage of the Tennessee Promise scholarship.
By Feb. 15, student applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); they must complete a Motlow admissions application; and they must attend their first mandatory Tennessee Promise meeting coordinated by TN Achieves.
The Tennessee Promise scholarship is available to Tennessee high school seniors throughout the Motlow 11-county service area, without an academic or income requirement. Complete information for future Motlow State students who will attend utilizing the Tennessee Promise is available at www.TNpromise.mscc.edu. Jonathan Graham, Tennessee Promise specialist at Motlow, offered advice to interested students, “It is extremely important that the FAFSA be completed by Feb. 15 in order to be eligible for the Tennessee Promise. Students and parents are encouraged to participate in one of the free FAFSA workshops either at Motlow or at the students’ high school.”
Graham also stated, “Students can receive help with their Motlow admission application by going to the Motlow admissions office. Mandatory TN Achieves meetings will be held at the students’ high school as well. High school guidance counselors will be advising students of the dates and times of each mandatory meeting.”
To apply to Motlow, students can go to the Motlow website at www.mscc.edu and click on “Apply now” For information regarding TN Achieves, students can go to www.tnachieves.org and click on “Team Meetings.”

The Tennessee Department of Health cautions travelers headed to Mexico, Central and South America, Hawaii and Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico and other locations with year-round warm climates to have increased awareness about the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses and to take appropriate bite protection measures. The cautionary message follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where an emerging health threat, zika virus infection, is ongoing.
Updates on areas with ongoing zika virus transmission are available online at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/. The CDC has also issued guidelines for pregnant women during a zika virus outbreak; to see these visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6502e1er.htm.
“Zika virus, dengue and chikungunya virus are among the most troubling of current mosquito-borne public health threats for travelers,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Tennesseans planning travel to warmer climates should understand the threats each of these presents and plan to protect themselves from mosquito bites at all times. Pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant especially should consider postponing a trip to countries with ongoing zika virus transmission at this time.”
Travelers should know about these mosquito-borne illnesses now causing health concerns for U.S. public health officials:
Zika virus:  There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for zika virus infection. Its most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. Pregnant women can be infected with zika virus in any trimester and zika virus infections have been confirmed in infants with microcephaly, a condition where the head is smaller than normal and a child may experience a variety of other health challenges, including physical and speech functions, seizure, hyperactivity, coordination problems and other brain/neurological disorders.
Dengue: There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for dengue infection or dengue hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, bone and muscle pain. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is the more serious infection; it may cause severe circulatory system failures and shock, and can be fatal in some cases.  To see a map of current locations with evidence of dengue, go to wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/dengue.
Chikungunya virus: There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya virus infection. Symptoms may include headache, severe muscle pain, joint swelling and rash, and may vary in severity from one individual to another. The most vulnerable are older persons, newborns infected at birth and those with other diseases including diabetes and chronic heart or kidney problems. Although it rarely results in death, chikungunya virus infection is known to cause severe pain in some people. To see a map of current locations with evidence of chikungunya, go to www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/index.html.
“Travelers should understand mosquitoes can bite any time of the day or night and can bite both indoors and outdoors,” said Abelardo Moncayo, PhD, director of the TDH Vector-Borne Disease program. “Bite prevention strategies should include the use of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents. Repellents containing 20 to 30 percent DEET, picaridin and IR3535 are safe for pregnant women when used as directed on the product label. Other bite protection measures include staying in air conditioned places with window and door screens, wearing long, loose shirts and pants, not using perfumes or colognes that may attract insects and using permethrin-treated clothing.”
Certain products containing permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills mosquitoes and other pests and retains this effect after repeated washing. Some clothing products are available pretreated with permethrin. It should not be used directly on skin.
TDH urges people who suspect they are infected with a mosquito-borne illness to seek medical help immediately. Medicines such as acetaminophen or paracetamol may be use to relieve pain.Aspirin, products containing aspirin and other nonsteroidal drugs such as ibuprofen should not be used if dengue virus infection is suspected. Patients should rest and drink lots of fluids. If symptoms develop following a trip, travelers should let their healthcare providers know when and where they traveled.
– See more at: http://tn.gov/news/23650#sthash.hMoxOmof.dpuf
The Tennessee Department of Health cautions travelers headed to Mexico, Central and South America, Hawaii and Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico and other locations with year-round warm climates to have increased awareness about the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses and to take appropriate bite protection measures. The cautionary message follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where an emerging health threat, zika virus infection, is ongoing.
Updates on areas with ongoing zika virus transmission are available online at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/. The CDC has also issued guidelines for pregnant women during a zika virus outbreak; to see these visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6502e1er.htm.
“Zika virus, dengue and chikungunya virus are among the most troubling of current mosquito-borne public health threats for travelers,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Tennesseans planning travel to warmer climates should understand the threats each of these presents and plan to protect themselves from mosquito bites at all times. Pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant especially should consider postponing a trip to countries with ongoing zika virus transmission at this time.”
Travelers should know about these mosquito-borne illnesses now causing health concerns for U.S. public health officials:
Zika virus:  There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for zika virus infection. Its most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. Pregnant women can be infected with zika virus in any trimester and zika virus infections have been confirmed in infants with microcephaly, a condition where the head is smaller than normal and a child may experience a variety of other health challenges, including physical and speech functions, seizure, hyperactivity, coordination problems and other brain/neurological disorders.
Dengue: There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for dengue infection or dengue hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, bone and muscle pain. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is the more serious infection; it may cause severe circulatory system failures and shock, and can be fatal in some cases.  To see a map of current locations with evidence of dengue, go to wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/dengue.
Chikungunya virus: There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya virus infection. Symptoms may include headache, severe muscle pain, joint swelling and rash, and may vary in severity from one individual to another. The most vulnerable are older persons, newborns infected at birth and those with other diseases including diabetes and chronic heart or kidney problems. Although it rarely results in death, chikungunya virus infection is known to cause severe pain in some people. To see a map of current locations with evidence of chikungunya, go to www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/index.html.
“Travelers should understand mosquitoes can bite any time of the day or night and can bite both indoors and outdoors,” said Abelardo Moncayo, PhD, director of the TDH Vector-Borne Disease program. “Bite prevention strategies should include the use of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents. Repellents containing 20 to 30 percent DEET, picaridin and IR3535 are safe for pregnant women when used as directed on the product label. Other bite protection measures include staying in air conditioned places with window and door screens, wearing long, loose shirts and pants, not using perfumes or colognes that may attract insects and using permethrin-treated clothing.”
Certain products containing permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills mosquitoes and other pests and retains this effect after repeated washing. Some clothing products are available pretreated with permethrin. It should not be used directly on skin.
TDH urges people who suspect they are infected with a mosquito-borne illness to seek medical help immediately. Medicines such as acetaminophen or paracetamol may be use to relieve pain.Aspirin, products containing aspirin and other nonsteroidal drugs such as ibuprofen should not be used if dengue virus infection is suspected. Patients should rest and drink lots of fluids. If symptoms develop following a trip, travelers should let their healthcare providers know when and where they traveled.