Dona Ana County mosquitoes capable of transmitting the Zika virus

State health officials say mosquitoes capable of transmitting the Zika virus have been found in Dona Ana County.

The New Mexico Department of Health says it’s the first time this season that the mosquito species has been found in that part of the state.

Mosquito surveillance in New Mexico’s southern counties is part of an ongoing joint project to map the range and distribution of the species that can transmit the Zika virus.

Zika virus can be transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito.

The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus.

The New Mexico Department of Health estimates only one in five people infected with Zika virus will exhibit signs or symptoms of the illness.

Those who do show signs of the virus may experience mild symptoms such as a fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis that typically last several days to a week.

Ten cases of Zika virus disease were reported in New Mexico last year. State health officials say they were all people infected while traveling abroad who then returned home.

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive are most at risk because Zika virus can cause serious birth defects. The virus is sexually transmitted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a list of countries with active Zika virus transmission on their website.

Mosquitos typically lay eggs in and near standing water in containers like old tires, buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. Certain species of mosquitos prefer to bite people, and tend to live indoors and outdoors near people. They can be agressive and bite at all times of day.

NMDOH Veterinarian Dr. Paul Ettestad said last year, mosquitoes did not start to appear untill after monsson rains in late July and August.

“With early rainfall and warm temperatures this year, the mosquitoes are out sooner, so precautions to avoid mosquito bites and to decrease mosquito breeding habitat, especially small containers with standing water in them around the home, should be started now,” said Ettestad.

To avoid Zika and other viruses spread by mosquitos, like West Nile Virus, NMDOH recommends the following prevention measures:

Look around your home and remove any standing water that may be found in small containers and then scrub out the containers to remove any mosquito eggs. The small squiggly creatures found in standing water are mosquito larvae that will turn into adult mosquitoes in a few days. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for children and pregnant or breast-feeding women. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.

For more information about Zika virus, visit https://nmhealth.org/go/zika or http://www.cdc.gov/zika.