WASHINGTON — Virginia will begin running tests on mosquitoes in an effort to gather more information about the Zika virus and to help control the spread of the illness.
The state has been testing humans for the mosquito-borne virus since April, but now it will test mosquitoes directly at the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.
“Thus far, all Virginia Zika virus infections have been associated with travel abroad, but we are ramping up efforts in preparation for locally transmitted cases, where a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites someone else,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
“Early detection of the virus in local mosquitoes allows health officials to pinpoint our efforts to prevent the spread to others in the community.”
Zika is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and can then be transmitted from human to human through sexual activity. The virus poses a particular threat to pregnant woman and their unborn children. Specifically, it can lead to microcephaly, a birth defect in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected.
Health officials say there have been 38 confirmed cases of Zika in Virginia, 31 in Maryland and 12 in D.C.
“Prevention is key when dealing with public health risks like Zika-virus disease, because we have no specific treatment and no vaccine at this time,” said Dr. Marissa Levine, Virginia’s state health commissioner.
“Many people are hard at work because responding to Zika requires a true community response.”
Upon request from local health departments, the Virginia Department of Health will deploy biologists to areas across the state to collect mosquitoes and send specimens in for testing.
Various mosquito surveillance programs in local communities will send in specimens. Last week, the state shipped collection kits to 10 such programs in central and southeastern Virginia in order to trap mosquitoes and return them for testing.
