Delaware is preparing for a potential outbreak of the Zika virus.
Since mosquitoes are primarily how Zika spreads, they're a major focus of the state’s plan to address the illness.
The type of mosquito that spreads Zika doesn’t exist in Delaware, but if a person infected with the virus comes to the state, that could trigger an outbreak, according to Bill Meredith, who administers the state’s mosquito control program for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
“There’s a chance you could have one of our local Asian tiger mosquitos bite them, pick up the virus and then take a second blood meal from another person and pass the virus on. So that’s going to be our focus is knocking down Asian Tiger mosquitos,” Meredith said.
Asian tiger mosquitos thrive in urban and suburban areas. DNREC is using fog trucks to prevent these mosquitos from breeding, but that’s only partly effective.
The best way to prevent the spread of Asian tiger mosquitos is to drain all standing water, according to Meredith. Even an upturned soda cap can hold enough water to hatch mosquito larvae.
Three people in Delaware have tested positive for Zika. None of them were pregnant and all three cases related to travel to one of the countries where Zika is widespread.
