‘Aggressive’ mosquito in Windsor could carry Zika and West Nile
An “aggressive” breed of mosquito capable of carrying the Zika and West Nile viruses has made Windsor-essex home.
The Windsor-essex County Health Unit on Thursday announced its mosquito surveillance program had identified the Aedes albopictus invasive mosquito in Windsor. Although the mosquitoes tested negative for Zika virus and West Nile virus, medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said residents should still take precautions so they are not bitten.
“(They) are aggressive daytime biters with peaks in activity in the early morning and late afternoon,” Ahmed said.
“The discovery of the Aedes albopictus mosquito again this year is an important reminder to everyone that we should continue to protect ourselves and our families from mosquito bites.”
To keep the local mosquito population from breeding, remove any standing water from around properties, including from items such as bird baths, animal dishes, gutters and old tires. Mosquitoes can breed in water-filled containers as small as a bottle cap, Ahmed said.
To stop the bugs from biting, wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants and a hat when outdoors. Light-coloured clothing is best since mosquitoes tend to like dark colours.
Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Icaridin, or other approved ingredients on clothing and on exposed skin.
Finally, make sure that doors and window screens fit securely and have no holes. Call 311 or local bylaw enforcement to report standing water in the community.
The Aedes albopictus breed of mosquito has routinely been captured locally since 2016, Ahmed said. In the following years, the health unit developed an enhanced mosquito surveillance program, which included placing additional traps throughout Windsor and Essex County.
Last month, when the 2020 mosquito surveillance program began, Ahmed said even more traps would be deployed in Leamington and Lakeshore to monitor tropical mosquitoes, which are also capable of carrying dengue fever and the chikungunya virus.
“Although the species can spread Zika virus, it remains a low risk in our community,” he said.
The most significant risk of contracting Zika virus, which can cause birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected, remains for travellers to Zika-risk areas, or those who have been in sexual contact with such travellers.
In 2019, the health unit tested 979 mosquito pools and 27 of those were positive for West Nile virus. The region saw one human case of West Nile.
The health unit began conducting its West Nile surveillance program in 2003.
The Aedes albopictus mosquito, also known as the tiger mosquito or forest mosquito, is native to tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia, according to Wikipedia. In the past few decades, however, the species has spread to many countries, including the United States and Canada. It is often characterized by white bands on its legs and body — hence the nickname, tiger mosquito.