The risk of Zika Virus in Windsor-Essex remains zero, even though the health unit has discovered the larvae of a second breed known to spread the illness.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Gary Kirk says all mosquitoes they've found have tested negative for the virus, he simply wants the public to be aware of what they're finding.
"The discovery of the yellow fever mosquito [aedes aegypti] larvae, through enhanced surveillance, is an important reminder that we should continue to protect ourselves and our families from mosquito bites," he explains.
The health unit started its enhanced surveillance program after discovering a breed known as the asian tiger mosquito, or aedes albopictus, three weeks ago.
The yellow fever mosquito is even better known for carrying Zika in the southern US, Caribbean, and South America, than the asian tiger is.
Both breeds are described as "tropical," so Kirk says they should die over the course of our winter, but he and his team will continue their intense surveillance in the spring.
It's expected that the mosquitoes were brought to this region in shipping containers, or vehicles coming across the border over the summer, and have been able to survive because of above-average temperatures in the region.
