The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says there is no current risk for locally transmitted Zika virus.
That's after a species of mosquitos, known as Aedes albopictus, that are capable of transmitting the disease, were detected in the region. All four Aedes albopictus mosquitos trapped in Windsor tested negative for the Zika virus.
"Based on all we know about this mosquito, the lack of Zika virus in it locally and in our community, we conclude that there is no current risk of Zika virus transmission in Windsor-Essex County," says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Gary Kirk.
He says though there is no need for residents to worry, health unit officials felt it was their responsibility to share this information.
"We don't believe there will be any Zika transmission at all based on all the information we have but feel compelled to share this information with the community," says Kirk.
The health unit suspects the mosquitoes were transported here from the US through a shipping container and were able to breed because of the hot summer. It's expected the species will not establish here permanently because of the cold winters.
This is not the first time this species was found in the region. Since mosquito monitoring began in Ontario in 2002 the Asian tiger mosquito was detected in 2005 and in 2012.
Though this mosquito is capable of transmitting the virus it is not the species responsible for the majority of human cases in the Caribbean, South America and Florida.
"We're early on in our experience with Zika virus in the Americas and it is extremely prudent when we find something like albopictus here to make sure we understand and prospectively monitor what's happening," says Dr. Doug Sider, medical director of communicable disease prevention and control with Public Health Ontario.
Kirk says the mosquito season is winding down but they expect to do additional monitoring next year for the Aedes albopictus.