Survey of West Nile and Banzi Viruses in Mosquitoes, South Africa, 2011–2018

Abstract

We collected >40,000 mosquitoes from 5 provinces in South Africa during 2011–2018 and screened for zoonotic flaviviruses. We detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes from conservation and periurban sites and potential new mosquito vectors; Banzi virus was rare. Our results suggest flavivirus transmission risks are increasing in South Africa.

Keywords

• flavivirus
• West Nile virus
• Banzi virus
• Culex
• Culicidae
• disease vectors