"Not a cause for alarm:" Species of mosquito capable of spreading Zika virus discovered in Dane County

DANE COUNTY -- A species of mosquito capable of spreading the Zika virus has been discovered in Dane County, officials with the Department of Health Services announced Monday, July 17th.

According to a press release from DHS officials, this is the first documentation of this species of mosquito in Wisconsin.

The Aedes albopictus is one type of mosquito that is capable of spreading Zika virus, however, it's important to note, officials say there is no evidence of Zika-infected mosquitoes in Wisconsin -- and the discovery of Aedes albopictus is unlikely to indicate an elevated risk of locally transmitted Zika virus in Wisconsin, DHS officials said.

Zika virus is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which survives in warmer climates, and has not been found in Wisconsin or any neighboring states.

DHS officials said in the release active surveillance for Aedes species mosquitoes has been ongoing in Wisconsin since 2016, in conjunction with UW, the CDC and local health departments.

Teams are currently assessing how widespread Aedes albopictus is in Dane County and are looking for the mosquito in other parts of the state. The Aedes albopictus mosquito has previously been detected in neighboring states including Minnesota and Iowa with no populations of this species becoming established and no known cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the Midwest.

“The detection of the Aedes albopictus mosquito in Wisconsin is not a cause for alarm. We can look to nearby states that also have small numbers of these mosquitoes, where Zika virus has not been locally spread,” said State Health Officer Karen McKeown in the release. “However, we want to remind Wisconsin residents to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Other serious diseases, including West Nile Virus, are spread by mosquitoes in our state.”

Wisconsin residents at risk for Zika virus infection are people who have traveled or had sexual contact with someone who traveled to locations with active Zika virus transmission.

The detection of Aedes albopictus in Wisconsin does not change the precautions that DHS recommends for people with a possible exposure to Zika virus. Anyone who may have been exposed to Zika should contact their doctor if they experience fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes within two weeks of possible exposure, and avoid mosquito bites for at least three weeks after they first become ill or after last possible exposure (if there are no symptoms).

To protect yourself from mosquito bites: