Radio New Zealand, 23 July 2016
The Ministry of Health is awaiting further testing after a
mosquito commonly found in New Zealand was discovered to
potentially be a transmitter of the Zika virus.
Culex mosquito, found in New Zealand, may be capable of
transmitting the Zika virus.Photo: 123rf.com
Brazilian researchers have said they have found signs of the
virus in the Culex mosquito, and are trying to determine if it
could be a significant source of infection.
They discovered the traces in Culex mosquitos captured in
northeast Brazil in the city of Recife.The species is different to
the Aedes aegypti, which is considered primarily responsible for
transmitting Zika. Landcare Research said the Culex mosquitos
arrived in New Zealand in the 1830s and were spread throughout most
of the country.
The Ministry of Health said it closely monitored developments
relating to Zika. "The research, which is in its early stages, must
be considered in conjunction with a range of other research being
done internationally," said Stewart Jessamine, the acting director
of public health. "The Ministry agrees with the researchers'
comments, as quoted in the article, that further tests are needed
to determine whether the species in question is responsible for
transmitting the virus to humans and, if so, to what extent."
Figures from the Institute for Environmental Science and
Research show 90 cases of Zika virus have been reported in New
Zealand since early January, all connected to people who have
"New Zealand health authorities routinely monitor international
scientific literature on mosquitoes and mosquito borne diseases and
will continue to watch developments with Zika closely," said Dr
Jessamine. "Surveillance for exotic mosquitoes is conducted at
international air and sea ports to make sure we detect any exotic
mosquitoes as soon as possible and so make sure species that may be
very efficient disease vectors don't establish in New Zealand."
The Brazilian researchers released their preliminary findings in
March. At the time, Auckland University researcher José Derraik
said even though the risk of mosquitoes transmitting viruses to
humans in New Zealand was very low, it could not be
"What could happen in the worst-case scenario is mosquitoes
could bite a person who had come back from overseas infected with
the virus, and the mosquitoes could then transmit it to another
person in New Zealand." He said people at risk of contracting Zika
in other countries should use insect repellent to minimise the
chances of local transmission.