ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota health investigators are searching cities in the southern part of the state for one of two primary species known to carry the Zika virus.

MPR News reports that the nearest established population of the Asian tiger mosquito is in southern Illinois, but small populations have been found in Minnesota before.

Minnesota Department of Health investigators didn't find any of the mosquitoes in Albert Lea last week. Agency staff will visit Winona, Rochester, Mankato, Worthington and possibly several other southern Minnesota cities over the next couple of weeks.

Epidemiologist Dave Neitzel says he's not expecting to find the mosquitoes because the states winters should be harsh enough to kill them. He says if the mosquito is in Minnesota, it would be more likely for them to survive in the south, where there are warmer temperatures.

 

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