HARASHAN, LA. (THECOUNT) — The Harashan Police Department recently posted a curious warning on Facebook that methamphetamines purchased in and around the area of Louisiana – may have been contaminated with the Zika virus.
The post, which appeared on the Harashan Police Department official Facebook page on Saturday, encourages residents to “bring all of your [meth] and they [police] will test it for free.” And if you can’t come to them, they will come to you.
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Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. The symptoms, when developed, are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache, according to the World Health Organization. This would be a first that the virus was spread via methamphetamines or any other drug use.
“Please bring all of it to your local Police Department and they will test it for free,” the department said on Facebook. “If you’re not comfortable coming to us, an officer will be glad to come to you and test your Meth in the privacy of your home.” source
There is no word on how much meth could be contaminated with the virus or if anyone has actually taken the police up on their offer to test the illegal substance.
The official department Facebook post did not mention whether folks participating in the testing will be held liable for possessing the illegal drug, or if the felonious substance would be confiscated upon conclusion.
In may of 2018, Harahan Police Chief, Tim Walker, (pictured above,) made headlines after his department was forced to turn over control of confiscated drug money to the city after the U.S. Department of Justice found the account was not being properly administered.
The action came amid an ongoing feud between Walker and Mayor Tina Miceli over control of the Police Department’s budget.
Harahan is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 9,277 at the 2010 census. Harahan was named in honor of James Theodore Harahan, president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1906-2018. The Illinois Central track runs parallel to Airline Highway, source Wikipedia.
The Zika infection can affect pregnancy causing infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations.