New Zealand’s biosecurity needs to be protected

New Zealand is free of many exotic diseases and their vectors. Effective quarantine and biosecurity procedures prevent the entry of these diseases or their carriers.

Sea ports at Timaru and Lyttelton, and Christchurch International Airport are potential entry points for these diseases.

Community and Public Health’s biosecurity-related activities at these locations includes:

• monitoring for exotic mosquitoes at ports and Christchurch Airport;
• responding to notifications of exotic mosquito interceptions and incursions;
• responding to ill passengers on international flights or visiting cruise ships; and
• inspecting ships for sanitary conditions and disease-carrying animals and insects such as mosquitoes and rats.

Community and Public Health are particularly focussed on mosquito-borne diseases and highly infectious diseases. Staff are ready to respond to any concerns that arise.

Exotic mosquitoes pose a life-threatening public health threat

Community and Public Health staff conduct mosquito surveillance activities to prevent exotic mosquitoes spreading serious illnesses such as Ross River Virus and Dengue Fever in New Zealand. This involves:

• doing regular mosquito surveys at potential entry ports;
• responding to suspected exotic mosquito sightings or reports, and
• answering questions and complaints about mosquitos.

New Zealand is an appealing environment for exotic mosquitoes and it is possible that they could become established in the South Island. Introduced species are very difficult and expensive to get rid of once established. New Zealand has 12 native species of mosquito and 3 well-established introduced species.

Lyttelton is a busy sea port that receives tonnes of high risk cargo every week (such as tyres, cars and machinery) from destinations such as Japan and other Asian countries. The port is near large areas of bush land – a mosquito-friendly habitat – and there is also a town very close.

Christchurch International Airport receives passengers and cargo from around the world. It has many sites that would suit container-breeding mosquitoes.

• Read about HPO Bruce Waddleton’s efforts to keep out foreign mosquitoes.
• Watch a video of HPO Keith Turner checking his mosquito traps at the Port of Timaru [MP4].

Responding to infectious diseases and other international events

The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 now take an ‘all hazards’ approach by including all events of a chemical, biological or radiological nature and are no longer just about responding to quarantinable diseases.

Christchurch International Airport Limited and Lyttelton Port of Christchurch are designated as Points of Entry under the IHR. This means they need to have met the required core capacities at all times.

Community and Public Health makes sure that sea ports and airports are ready to deal with a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by:

• maintaining emergency response plans;
• assessing unwell international travellers and crew; and
• developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.

• Read “Responding to Public Health Threats at New Zealand Air- and Seaports” (Ministry of Health 2022).

Documents

• Biosecurity Act 1993.
• Health Act 1956.
• Health (Quarantine) Regulations 1983.
• International Health Regulations 2005.
• Maritime Security Act 2004.

Links

• Biosecurity in New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries).
• Maritime Border Health (Ministry of Health).
• New Zealand BioSecure.
• Mosquitoes (Landcare Research).
• Mosquitoes (Ministry of Health).

Stop mosquitoes breeding around your home

The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to stop them from breeding. A simple way to do this is to get rid of anything that holds water.

First:

1. Get rid of all tins, jars, bottles, plastic bags or other items that can lie around and hold water.
2. Get rid of all old tyres and drill holes in the bottom of tyre swings.
3. Fill or drain hollows in the ground that can hold water.
4. Overturn boats, canoes and dinghies – in fact, anything you have to store outside that could hold water.
5. Cover venting pipes on septic tanks with mosquito-proof covers.
6. Seal or cover rainwater tanks.
7. Stock ponds with fish as some species love mosquito larvae.

Every week:

1. Empty and clean pot plant saucers (even better, fill them with sand).
2. Empty and clean animal and pet drinking water containers.
3. Check gutters and drains are clear of leaves and blockages.
4. Some pot plants hold water in their leaves – so empty once a week.
5. Keep swimming pools well chlorinated and filtered and free of dead leaves.
6. Empty paddling pools.