Tri-state health officials prep for Zika – THonline.com: Dubuque News Tri-state health officials prep for Zika

Pubic health officials say there is a remote chance mosquitoes linked to the Zika virus could find their way to the tri-states.

aWith some mosquito-borne illnesses such as La Crosse encephalitis already known to be in our area, and the possibility of the mosquito carrying the Zika virus migrating closer to our state, mosquito monitoring and control efforts are very important for protecting public health,a said Grant County, Wis., Health Department Director Jeff Kindrai.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is coordinating efforts in southern Wisconsin to conduct a surveillance for the mosquitoes that could potentially carry the virus.

There have been no cases of Zika reported in Wisconsin, and the two species of mosquitoes that carry it have not been found in the state or in Iowa. There have been no reports of Zika infections in Wisconsin travelers, according to state public health officials.

While state public health officials donat expect the mosquitoes that carry the virus ato make it this far,a local public health officials will be participating in an Iowa Department of Public Health webinar Thursday to learn more about Zika, said Dubuque County Health Department Executive Director Patrice Lambert.

Jo Daviess County, Ill., health officials currently test mosquitoes for the presence of West Nile under a state grant. Whether it would get funding to test for Zika is unknown, said Lori Stangl, director of clinical service for the Jo Daviess County Health Department.