Expert believes now is time to stop Zika from spreading in U.S.

County watching mosquitoes closely

La Crosse County will be trapping mosquitoes, as usual, this season, to avoid the spread of certain illnesses.

Even though the mosquito blamed for carrying the Zika virus has not been detected in the lower 48 states, local vector control agent Dave Geske is eager to stop it.  

Geske is watching closely for the type of mosquito which is most likely to bring Zika to the Midwest in the future.

“If that vector becomes infected with Zika, half the United States would be trying to address this frightening problem with, ‘What happens with pregnancies of those infected with Zika?'” Geske said.

The county routinely traps mosquitoes that are carriers of encephalitis and West Nile virus.

Geske says the federal government should be spending money now to limit the spread of Zika.