Search This Blog

Thursday, December 8, 2011

New Zealand : Exotic mosquitoes found at Ports of Auckland

Article via Stuff :

" Dengue and Yellow Fever are among the diseases carried by exotic types of mosquito caught by biosecurity staff at the Ports of Auckland. Two species of the unwanted insect were discovered on Tuesday on a visiting cargo ship from Vanuatu docked in Auckland.

It had been in Tauranga the previous day. The Ministry of Health says it is particularly concerned about the Asian Tiger Mosquito found on board which is not established in New Zealand and is known to spread Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, and Ross River Virus.

The other species, known as Culex quinquefasciatus, is thought to spread diseases such as West Nile virus. It is already established here but, to date, New Zealand has no record of any locally-acquired, mosquito-borne diseases. All mosquitoes and larvae detected on the ship have been treated and killed. The ship has been checked and traps set in the port, and the ministry believes all the insects should have been eradicated."

No comments:

Post a Comment