The Louisiana Police Department was able to convince people to voluntarily surrender the crystal meth in their possession to be tested for possible Zika virus.
Local Police Department's Clever Plan To Seize Illegal Substances
In a now-viral Facebook post, the authorities warned that the illegal substance being sold in the Louisiana area might have been tainted with the disease. They urged the public to contact their local police department to book an appointment with an officer and test their drugs for free at the comfort of their own homes.
The announcement has racked up over 1,000 reactions and comments on social media and has shared by 7,000 people since it was posted on Saturday, Dec. 29. So far, no one has actually surrendered their crystal meth for testing, but the authorities said that the post was meant to highlight the problem of drug abuse in the area.
"Folks, the drug epidemic is real...praying 2019 brings solutions to a real national epidemic," stated Harahan Police Officer Keith Moody in his own post on Facebook via Fox News. "We will continue to aggressively enforce drug laws and work with fellow agencies to combat the illegal enterprises that are literally killing more than 100 people a day with illicit drugs."
In a conversation with The Advocate, Harahan Police Chief Tim Walker admitted that the idea came from other law enforcement agencies that tried the same tactic over the past year. Although the announcement was a joke, he hopes that the post will make anyone pause and rethink the consequences of their actions.
Zika Virus In Louisiana Meth
Is the crystal meth in Louisiana contaminated with Zika Virus? The answer is no. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Zika Virus is often transmitted through mosquito bites. Although not confirmed, people can likely get infected through sex and blood transfusion as well.
Since 2018, no mosquito-borne Zika transmission has been reported in the United States. However, it remains a threat to the people who are traveling to countries where the virus has previously been found.
Symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever, rashes, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, and red eyes. There currently is no vaccine available to prevent Zika.
