"The virus' favorite mosquito is Aedes Aegypti, and that's a mosquito that we don't even have in Indiana, and we know this because we do very extensive surveillance for mosquitoes every year."
Brown says the travel warning for pregnant women and their partners was issued because Zika has been associated with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and brain damage, in some cases. Brown urges anyone else traveling to the affected countries not to panic, but to take precautions because mosquitoes spread disease.
Brown says the Aedes Aegypti is also known as the "yellow fever" mosquito – but she adds Indiana's climate and level of public sanitation would prevent a local outbreak.
"This is a virus that thrives in areas of dense human population, urban areas, and is often associated with poor sanitation, because the mosquitoes that transmits the virus breed in standing water associated with human garbage."
Brown says most people who contract the Zika virus don't get sick, and only about one in five will feel mildly ill.
She says anyone traveling to climates where mosquitoes thrive is always encouraged to wear repellent and sleep in air-conditioned rooms or with mosquito nets. She notes this particular mosquito is more determined to bite than some others.
She says anyone traveling to climates where mosquitoes thrive is always encouraged to wear repellent and sleep in air-conditioned rooms or with mosquito nets. She notes this particular mosquito is more determined to bite than some others.
"These mosquitoes are a little bit more aggressive biters. They're active during the daytime and they do spend much more time in indoor areas than what we're used to here at home."
Although no travel bans have been issued – only advisories for pregnant women – Brown says be warned: this mosquito is responsible for a lot of human illness.
