NATCHEZ — Students in Katelynn Yvon’s art classes watched as their teacher began drawing a dark figure on the chalkboard.

The creature had curved, gnarled legs, veiny wings and a sharp, needle-like proboscis.

It was a mosquito.

On Oct. 17, Yvon’s art classes at Natchez Freshman Academy invited Madeline England, community health director for Southwest Mississippi for Mississippi State Department of Health, to their class.

England gave a presentation and handed out a questionnaire about the Zika virus, an infectious disease spread primarily through the bite of a mosquito.

England’s presentation detailed the symptoms, spreading and dangers of the Zika virus, such as a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly that can affect unborn children if the mother becomes infected.

She also handed out mosquito-repellant wrist bands for the students to use while outside.

When the questionnaires were complete, Yvon stepped to the board and taught students how to draw mosquitoes and repellant spray cans.

“Art is a serious gateway for a lot of things and it has been throughout history. A great form of activism is creating art that speaks a message,” Yvon said. “In this case, it’s a message of awareness of this virus and how to keep it from spreading.”

At the end of each class, students voted on their favorite drawing. The drawing with the most votes, Yvon said, will be framed and hung in a local business.

Yvon’s is the first art class in the Natchez Freshman Academy and at the beginning of the school year, Yvon said she had little art supplies.

England said the Mississippi State Department of Health recently deployed a statewide Zika awareness initiative, which includes community projects.

Though no case of local transmission in the state has been recorded yet, and England said increasing awareness of the virus will help students protect themselves.

“We have a little bit of funding for the community projects,” England said.  “So, we were able to purchase supplies for this project.”

England said combining art and awareness “translates” the message into something more palatable for students, and hanging the projects in local businesses will increase community awareness.

Yvon said the paint, pencils, markers and pastels students used as a part of the project have a dual purpose.

“We’re going to be able to use all these supplies during the year,” Yvon said. “We just really wanted to not only benefit the kids but work with the town.”

Each child gets to make the project their own, Yvon said, while still absorbing the important facets of the Zika virus and its prevention.

“They’re creative thinkers anyway,” Yvon said. “I’m just trying to give them an opportunity to express themselves.”