Although it has been widely suggested that Canada will not see local transmission of the Zika virus (due to the lack of Aedes mosquito species), four potentially Zika-carrying mosquitoes have been found in a mosquito trap in Windsor, Ontario last month.The Aedes albopictus species (also known as the Asian Tiger mosquito) is a close relative to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species primarily responsible for transmitting Zika to humans. Four Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were found as part of regular surveillance for West Nile in Windsor, however the mosquitoes thankfully tested negative to the Zika virus. This is big news however, since this is the only reported case of this species of mosquito found in Ontario this year.
It's believed that the mosquitoes came over to our shores via a cross-border traveller from the US. Both species are uncommon in Canada due to our cold Winter climate, however it is thought that Ontario's unseasonably warm Summer has allowed them to survive. The Aedes aegypti mosquito has yet to be sighted in Ontario.
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