Pierre, SD (KELO-AM) South Dakota plans pre-emptive strikes against the potential threat of the Zika Virus, especially in the southeastern part of the state.
Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) says since old tires can be mosquito breeding grounds, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will arrange waste tire collection events at landfills in southeastern South Dakota. Also, the Department of Health will offer grants to help fund local mosquito control programs.
“The newest mosquito-borne threat has not been detected in South Dakota. However, Zika mosquito vectors have been identified in neighboring states to our south and east,” says Daugaard.
The Zika Virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is not known to exist in South Dakota. A related species, the Aedes albopictus mosquito, can range as far north as Sioux City. Daugaard says that beginning in June the Department of Health, SDSU and local mosquito control programs in the southeastern part of the state will be trapping and testing mosquitoes to determine whether albopictus is found in South Dakota.
The Governor is also asking South Dakotans to do their part by wearing the proper clothing during mosquito season and to limit being outside when mosquitos are most active, from dusk to midnight.
The Zika virus is spreading fast in South America and the Caribbean. Hundreds of travelers have brought the virus back with them to the United States. Federal health officials predict that once mosquito season starts in the U.S., there could be small, local outrbreaks. What is most unsettling is that Zika has been blamed for birth defects in pregnant women.