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Congresswoman Graham's Latest Workday Aimed At Helping Fight Zika Virus

Rep. Gwen Graham's facebook
Working with the Bay County Mosquito Control Division,Congresswoman Gwen Graham (D-FL) finds mosquito larvae in an empty pet carrier.

North Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham’s latest workday involved helping to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

Graham’s workday with members of the Bay County Mosquito Control Division involved looking for standing water where mosquito larvae could potentially breed, like inside empty trash cans and flower pot dishes.

“Actually, we found an unusual place, quite a few larvae in a pet carrier that was empty, but had been out in the rain,” she said, in a video.

Graham also got a firsthand-look at how the division works to combat the Zika virus, the mosquito-borne disease that can cause severe birth defects.

“We are taking samples of the water that have the larvae in them in order to take them back to the lab and test to see if these are the type of mosquito larvae that carry the Zika virus,” she added.

In addition to her workday, Graham has been part of a bipartisan push among Florida’s Congressional Delegation to fully fund President Obama’s request of $1.9 billion to help fight Zika. Having separate funding bills, Congress is still divided over the number.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.