Mosquitoes carrying zika virus could spread disease to Black Sea region

CASES of the deadly zika virus have been detected in Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes capable of spreading the disease in the north-eastern Black Sea region and across the Crimean peninsula, according to a report by Turkey’s Ministry of Health.

The same mosquitoes have also been identified in western Thrace and İstanbul, though cases of Zika there have not yet been documented.

The report by the ministry’s Health Risks Warning Department say scientists are predicting a possible spread of the virus across central Turkey “in five to seven years”.

Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said on Thursday the situation was being closely monitored by the government.

International health organisations recently classified Turkey as a “zika risk category four” country.