Initially, concerns surrounding the Zika virus were lower here than in southern states because the mosquito species carrying the virus were native to the Gulf states-- but that has changed. For the first time the virus has been detected in a species native to Minnesota.

The 'Asian Tiger' variety of mosquito has been detected by the Pan American Health Association to be a carrier of the Zika virus; and the 'Asian Tiger' calls the southern third of the North Star state home.

The good news for those of us in St. Cloud is that it is generally accepted that we are out of the 'Asian Tiger' habitat area (as are parts of the state north of our area). However, the Twin Cities are on the northern edge.

The Centers of Disease Control seems to think that the 'Asian Tiger' will likely have a lesser impact on the spread of the virus for several reasons -- one is that the skeeter in Minnesota is less a less aggressive biter that its southern cousins.

According to the CDC, 426 cases of Zika have been reported in the U.S. to date -- none of which have been attributed to mosquitoes (instead they have been traced back to sexual transmission or traveling abroad).

The Obama administration has asked Congress for almost two billion dollars to help local and state governments fight the virus.

Stay tuned. Use bug spray.

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