DC Starts Mosquito Trapping Early, Tests for More Viruses

Health officials in the District of Columbia say they're starting mosquito surveillance earlier this year and expanding the number of viruses they'll test for in trapped mosquitoes.

Officials announced in a statement Monday that they are starting mosquito trapping this week, two months earlier than in previous years, and they'll continue through the first frost.

Department of Forensic Sciences Director Dr. Jenifer Smith says the department only tested trapped mosquitoes for West Nile virus last year, but this year testing will include chikungunya, dengue and Zika.

There have been three confirmed cases of Zika in the District of Columbia related to international travel, but no locally acquired cases. Department of Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt says the longer surveillance period will help identify when local transmission of Zika could occur.