The yellow fever mosquito, known to carry the Zika virus, has been found in Windsor.
It's the first adult Aedes aegypti mosquito that has been captured in Canada. Last year, the larvae were found in local mosquito traps.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit mosquito surveillance also located two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes last week. The health unit says this pattern could indicate that the Aedes species may be starting to become established in the region.
“We will continue to ensure that our community stays informed about infectious diseases and our local mosquito surveillance program. The discovery of the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito is an important reminder that we should continue to protect ourselves and our families from mosquito bites. With these Aedes species found in the area, I urge residents to remove all standing water from their homes and work,” says Dr. Ahmed, acting medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
None of the mosquitoes found locally tested positive for the Zika virus. The health unit says there is no current risk of transmission of the virus locally. For Zika virus transmission to occur, the Aedes aegypti mosquito would need to feed on an infected person within the first several days of infection, and then feed upon another susceptible person.