Could Zika Reach Alabama?

The FDA has recently advised blood centers in Miami-Dade County to discontinue their blood-drives out of fear of causing a further spread of the Zika virus. Naturally many residents in neighboring Alabama are concerned that the virus will spread to their state as well. Despite this understandable fear, some experts believe that the risk of Zika spreading to Alabama is low.

An Entomology professor at Auburn University believes that the possibility is slim that Zika will cross the border to Alabama since the population of the type of mosquito that carries Zika is much lower in Alabama, and human traffic is far less frequent. However, a local physician from Fairhope believes that the virus will appear in Alabama any day now. He states that the Alabama Health Department is asking that physicians screen all of their patients for symptoms of Zika. The doctor emphasizes the importance of taking preventive action, such as switching to yellow light bulbs, which mosquitoes find less attractive.

If Zika reaches Alabama do you think it will only be a matter of time before Zika reaches all US states?