Health Officials: Spread Of Zika Virus Not Expected In Wisconsin

The Zika virus that just recently appeared in Wisconsin is unlikely to spread across the state, according to local health officials.

The state Department of Health Services reported Wisconsin’s first case of Zika on Wednesday. A woman who had traveled to Honduras tested positive for the virus.

But public health officials in Eau Claire and Dane County have said they aren’t worried Zika will spread across Wisconsin. That’s also the prediction of University of Wisconsin bug expert, entomology professor Susan Paskewitz.

“So while we are going to be out this year looking for it just to make sure we haven’t missed something, we don’t expect it to be here. If it is here, it’s going to be very local maybe one spot for example that’s been invaded,” she said.

Paskewitz is working with local health officials to trap mosquitos to see if any carry the Zika virus. Some states, like Georgia, are spraying pesticides to ward off Zika, but Paskewitz said that isn’t necessary in Wisconsin unless the situation changes.

“You know, unless something dramatically changed then we might have to have a different response. But right now, no, we definitely should not be treating for Zika vectors in our state,” she said.

Amanda Kita–Yarbro, with Public Health — Madison & Dane County, said they do routine surveillance for West Nile virus in mosquitos, and this year will also look for Zika but don’t expect to find it.

“Right now, the mosquito that spreads Zika isn’t present in Wisconsin so we don’t really expect any local transmission. So, we are thinking about it, doing some preparation here but we’re not overly concerned,” she said.

Officials with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that all the Zika cases in the U.S. currently are travel-related.