Brazilian researchers said Thursday that they have found that another species of mosquito is able to transmit the Zika virus to humans, according to AP. Fiocruz institute said that additional studies will be needed to determine what role the widespread Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito has played in the Zika epidemic. The research was done at Recife, a city in the Zika epicenter of northeastern Brazil where the Culex is 20 times more common than the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The researchers collected hundreds of the Culex from the city and found Zika in some. The Aedes aegypti has been seen as the main spreader of Zika. Most of Brazil's anti-Zika initiatives are aimed at that bug, which also transmits dengue fever and Chikungunya. A related mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has also been found to be capable of spreading Zika. But health officials say it has not been a significant source of Zika transmission. The latest finding could complicate efforts to limit the Zika epidemic. Culex quinquefasciatus is a medium-sized brown insect. It is found in the southern United States, where it is commonly known as the southern house mosquito. U.S. health officials say it has been found to transmit West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus.
