Recently, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said the only two places in the Americas that didn’t have the vector of Zika, dengue and chikungunya–Aedes aegypti–was Canada and continental Chile.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

However, it appears that has changed.

In a report in the news source, Bem Estar (computer translated), Chile Health Minister Carmen Castillo noted that the mosquito vector was identified in the city of Arica at the northern tip of Chile.

Health authorities say this is the first time A. aegypti has been detected in the country in six decades.

Minister Castillo said, This is a Aede aegypti, which means we have to take more precautions.” He went on to say prior to the announcement, it was believed that the mosquito only existed on Easter Island.

Last week, Chile reported a sexually transmitted Zika virus infection.

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