USA, Texas - Chikungunya-Positive Mosquito Found in Harris County

[Gert van der Hoek]

Chikungunya-Positive Mosquito Found in Harris County

By Bianca Castro

Wednesday, Aug 6, 2014

Health officials in Harris County say a mosquito has tested positive for the Chikungunya virus. It is the first Chikungunya-positive mosquito detected in the state.

Health officials have not determined whether the mosquito carrying Chikungunya in Harris County obtained the virus from an infected person already in Texas or if it traveled to the United States trapped in large cargo.

More: NBCDFW

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: USA, Texas - Chikungunya-Positive Mosquito Found in Harris County

Texas county reports chikungunya-positive mosquito

Michelle Healy, USA TODAY 8:40 p.m. EDT August 7, 2014

The announcement Wednesday by Harris County, Texas health officials that a mosquito had tested positive for the chikungunya virus is the latest evidence confirming its presence within the U.S.

The positive test is believed to be the first nationally, says Kristy Murray, associate vice-chair of research at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston — which is in Harris County — and director of its Laboratory of Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

"Where before we were very concerned about people traveling from areas, especially the Caribbean where there's a tremendous (chikungunya) outbreak going on, now this means that someone could be sitting in their own backyard in Houston and become infected — no travel required," says Murray.

"Year to date, we have (tested) over 450,000 mosquitoes (for various viruses). We're talking about a lot of mosquitoes, says Umair Shah, executive director, Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services. "This is the first time we found it."

More: USA Today