Mosquito ‘Kids’ Spread Zika

With the cold weather during the winter months, there’s hope that the current transmission of the Zika virus will take a plunge due to the reduction in the mosquito population. However, this may not be so, as recent research has revealed that the virus could survive the winter via vertical transmission through mosquito larvae. Here’s an article with more information.

Mosquitoes Can Pass Zika to Their Offspring

Mosquito-borne viruses, like dengue and chikungunya, tend to come in seasonal waves, flaring up in the summer or wet seasons, and fading in the winter or dry seasons. Zika is expected to behave similarly, though hopefully future flare-ups will be less intense than the current epidemic as people in affected populations develop immunity.

The article refers to how genetically modified mosquitoes could help to overcome this issue by “reduce the population by breeding with wild mosquitoes to create offspring that can’t survive to adulthood.” 

So if all the adult mosquitoes perish through the winter, the kids remain to continue to spread disease.

This is why it’s so important to make sure your yard does not become a breading ground for mosquitoes at any time of the year. Make sure you check our mosquito tips for the homeowner, so that you can protect your living environment, make it a safe place for you and your family and help play your part in the fight against Zika.