Mosquito capable of carrying Zika captured in Ontario city
WINDSOR, Ont. — The species capable of carrying the Zika virus — a “sneaky” daytime biter — was captured last week in Windsor, Ont., the first known adult mosquito to be found in Canada, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported Tuesday.
An adult Aedes aegypti mosquito, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito and the species responsible for the majority of human cases of Zika virus infections in the Caribbean, South America and Florida, was found in a single mosquito trap somewhere in the city. The health unit would not reveal the location, but the mosquito tested negative for Zika virus and West Nile virus.
It is the first time an adult Aedes aegypti mosquito has been captured in Canada, according to the health unit. Last year, Aedes aegypti larvae were found in the region through enhanced mosquito surveillance. The discovery of an adult along with last week’s discovery of the two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes indicates the Aedes species may be starting to become established in the region, the health unit said.
“This is pretty significant from a risk perspective since this mosquito type normally doesn’t prefer our cooler climate,” acting medical officer Dr. Wajid Ahmed said. “It also brings the new risk of diseases. But at this point there really is no increased risk for the Zika virus.”
Ahmed said although the risk is low, the health unit along with Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada will be working together to come up with an action plan.
It’s unknown how the mosquitoes arrived in Canada, but Ahmed and Dr. Robbin Lindsay, a research scientist with the Public Health Agency of Canada, believe they were transported from the U.S. in shipping containers or cross-border vehicle traffic.