Mosquitoes Considered Primary Carrier Of Zika Virus Found In SW Oklahoma

<p>A type of mosquitoes considered the primary carrier of Zika Virus has been found in southwest Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.&nbsp;</p>

Thursday, July 28th 2016, 11:33 am

By: News 9


A type of mosquitoes considered the primary carrier of Zika Virus has been found in southwest Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

According to health officials, the department began a collaborative mosquito surveillance project with the Oklahoma State University entomologists to detect the possible presence of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever) mosquitoes in six different Oklahoma communities. Aedes aegypti are considered the primary mosquito carrier of the Zika virus in South and Central America and the Caribbean where a Zika epidemic is ongoing. There has been no local transmission of the virus confirmed anywhere in the United States.

Officials said an early finding of the project has been the identification of a small number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in various locations in Altus, Oklahoma.

In previous years, rare collections of Aedes aegypti have been noted in Oklahoma and Comanche counties. Officials said this is the first discovery in Jackson County. Oklahoma’s drier weather and lack of dense human population make it a less favorable region for the yellow fever mosquito.

“The presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Altus does not mean that community or other communities in Oklahoma will have locally originated cases of Zika virus,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “Gaining a better understanding of the potential locations and density of this mosquito adds to our knowledge and risk assessment for Zika. For local transmission of Zika virus to be possible, mosquitoes must first have to pick up the virus from an infected person to be able to spread it to others,” she added.

Four of the six regions being monitored include communities with proximity to military bases, said Dr. Bruce Noden, a medical and veterinary entomologist at OSU, who is coordinating the project. 

“This choice was because of the potential for mosquitoes to be transiently introduced by movement of military supplies. It seems quite unlikely, however, that this current finding came from nearby Altus Air Force Base,” Noden said.

To date, health officials said 13 international travel-acquired cases of Zika virus have been confirmed among Oklahomans, none involving a resident of southwest Oklahoma.

Officials said the primary concern in Oklahoma is West Nile Virus. Learn more about Zika Virus and West Nile Virus here

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