New York Invests Millions in Mosquito Vigilance

WNYC News | Jul 8, 2016

The City and State governments are investing $21 million over a three-year period, in a "Zika response plan."

The plan builds on longstanding efforts focused on West Nile Virus, adding dozens more mosquito traps around the city and 51 new inspectors, exterminators, disease inspectors and lab analysts.

The main mosquito that transmits Zika is a tropical species called aedes aegypti. Its "cousin" in this region, aedes albopictus, has not been found to harbor Zika in the wild. Nonetheless, the city has been trapping and testing hundreds of them.

The city is also expanding testing for pregnant New Yorkers who have traveled to warmer regions. And officials have launched a campaign to disseminate prevention and testing information throughout the city.

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