With news that Florida now has 14 reported cases of locally transmitted Zika virus, the possibility that the disease could spread throughout the nation is a growing concern. So far, there have been zero reported cases of Zika in Santa Barbara County, according to Dr. Charity Dean, physician health officer in the county’s Public Health Department.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified two species that transmit the virus: the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are commonly referred to as the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito, respectively. These species have been identified in 12 counties throughout California but have yet to be found in Santa Barbara County, according to David Chang, general manager for the Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County. While there have been cases of imported Zika virus in California there are currently no cases of the disease being locally transmitted.
Even with the absence of the disease-spreading vermin in the county, Santa Barbara is not out of the danger zone. “There’s a very good chance that we will have people that test positive for Zika in Santa Barbara County who are returning from travel to another area that has Zika,” Dean said.