Dr. John Wells is an experienced clinician and medical executive who holds certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Life support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support. Currently, Dr. John Wells serves as the Fire/EMS and medical director for the city of Brownsville, Texas, where he also provides public health oversight as the city health authority.
The Brownsville Public Health Department works to improve the quality of life and well-being of the local community through five divisions: Animal Regulation, Inspection & Foods, Ordinance Enforcement, Vector Control, and Wellness. The department has also made a number of resources available to residents regarding Zika, a mosquito-borne transmissible virus.
Zika can lead to Congenital Zika Syndrome, a condition that causes birth defects in babies that include small head size, seizures, and damage to the brain. Preventive measures are important, since most adults affected with the virus show limited symptoms or none at all. Prevention guidelines include using protection during sex, applying an insect repellant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, installing screens on doors and windows, and wearing long sleeves. Moreover, steps can be taken to reduce the local mosquito population, such as removing standing water around the home.
For a complete listing of Zika resources, visit the Brownsville Public Health Department at https://www.cob.us/1630/Zika.
Dr. John Wells 