The mosquito species that carries the Zika virus is back in Mobile for the first time in more than 2 decades. Auburn University researchers say they’ve discovered the Aedes aegypti mosquito in town after 26-years. Researches say that means residents are at risk of contracting Zika and the other illnesses this bug carries, including yellow fever.

According to a press release from Auburn,  “The study was conducted from July 2016 to September 2017. Mosquitoes were collected twice a month from the grounds of various tire shops, gas stations, abandoned buildings and open containers quantified to estimate larval abundance. A total of 1,074 mosquitoes were collected, with Ae. aegypti being detected most commonly in the 36606 area code of southwest Mobile, where there were more open containers than any other area in the city.”

WKRG’s News 5 is examining the issue and how serious the threat is tonight on News 5.