Mosquitoes posing threat for Indiana, lawmakers divided over Zika spending
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – The kind of mosquito believed to carry the Zika virus has been found in central Indiana.
The mosquito was found in Johnson County.
Health officials say it isn’t unusual to find.
According to our 24-Hour News 8’s partner, The Daily Journal, more than 30 Hoosiers have contracted the virus, all of them infected while traveling mostly overseas, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
Johnson County recently got a $3,000 grant for Zika prevention, which will be used to treat areas where mosquitoes are breeding.
Late Tuesday, the Senate used its first vote since returning to recess to highlight that partisan battling over financing the battle against Zika remains as bitter as ever.
For the third time this year, Senate Democrats blocked a $1.1 billion Republican measure to battle the virus. A 52-46 vote to advance the money fell short of the 60 votes needed as Democrats opposed provisions blocking Zika prevention and treatment money from going to Planned Parenthood clinics in Puerto Rico.
Republicans called that a shaky excuse compared to the threat of the mosquito-carried Zika virus. No. 3 Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the GOP was using the bill “to assuage the hard right.”
There have been dozens of Zika cases in the political battleground state of Florida. Tuesday’s vote might prod Republicans to attach Zika money to temporary spending legislation.
House Republicans are scheduled to meet Wednesday behind closed doors to hash out strategy on those and other issues. Lawmakers in Washington are also now considering adding Zika funding into a short-term general spending bill.
No mosquitoes in Indiana have tested positive for the Zika virus, so the local risk of Zika is still low, but Johnson County officials still caution people to wear long sleeves and repellent if you are going outside at night. Also make sure to empty any standing pools of water on your property where mosquitoes could breed.The Associated Press contributed to this report.