Australian arboviruses: at what risk New Zealand?

Weinstein, Philip; Laird, Marshall; Calder, Lester

doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.1995.tb02850.x

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…36 In the New Zealand scenario, according to Weinstein et al, the amount of virus circulating in the human and other ver tebrate animal populations, such as that of Auckland and its surroundings, is likely to be sufficient to sustain an outbreak. 37 Compounding this situation, the human population in New Zealand is likely non-immune and susceptible. 38,39 This ostensible susceptibility is exacerbated by the lack of public education regarding the need for mosquito control measures.…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…38,39 This ostensible susceptibility is exacerbated by the lack of public education regarding the need for mosquito control measures. 37,38 The convergence of potential introduction of exotic vir uses, lack of adequate testing facilities, and absence of a well-infor med public cannot bode well for rapid recognition and response.…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is New Zealand prepared to deal with arboviral diseases?

Derraik

Calisher

2004

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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To now, New Zealand has been spared arboviral diseases, except for the odd imported infection. However, two exotic vector mosquitoes (Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus and Ochlerotatus notoscriptus) have become established in New Zealand and the routine arrival of infected people from overseas may soon lead to local arboviral transmission. Large populations of wild wallabies and Brushtail possums could serve as reservoirs of Ross River virus and other arboviruses. Several other exotic mosquito species, including important disease vectors such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, have already been intercepted in New Zealand. It is clear that increased border surveillance is necessary if we are to interdict the establishment of such species. We recommend several measures that should be adopted, including increased training and awareness of public health officials, clinicians and the general public, and taking appropriate steps to make New Zealand self‐sustainable in terms of arboviral surveillance, diagnosis, and prevention.

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Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is New Zealand prepared to deal with arboviral diseases?

Derraik

Calisher

2004

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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“…The potential for introduction of arboviruses currently absent from New Zealand poses an important public health threat (42). The greatest threat is from Australia, a nation with a high incidence of arboviral disease and frequent traveler exchange with New Zealand.…”

Section: Vector-borne Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

“…C. annulirostris from Australia (vector of Murray Valley encephalitis virus) and A. polynesiensis from the Pacific are vectors of RRV and would be of concern if introduced into New Zealand. Furthermore, a low level of community awareness of and involvement in mosquito control caused by the traditional absence of these diseases would compound the public health effort required to control outbreaks (42).…”

Section: Vector-borne Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Infectious Diseases in an Island Ecosystem: The New Zealand Perspective

Crump

Murdoch

Baker

2001

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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“…In spite of arboviral diseases being recognized as an increasing threat to New Zealand for over a decade (Maguire 1994;Weinstein et al 1995Weinstein et al , 1997Derraik & Slaney 2007), and calls for improved surveillance for mosquitoes with disease-vector potential (Hearnden et al 1999;Derraik & Slaney 2007), no surveillance for Whataroa virus in its vertebrate hosts in New Zealand has been carried out for four decades. Motivated by a recent survey showing that the prevalence of another mosquito-borne pathogen, avian malaria, has increased in wild bird populations in New Zealand over roughly the same time period (Tompkins & Gleeson 2006), here we reassess the status of Whataroa virus in the same bird species in the same area where the virus was detected previously.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whataroa virus four decades on: emerging, persisting, or fading out?

Tompkins

Paterson

Massey

et al. 2010

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

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Whataroa virus, first detected in 1962 in bird populations around Whataroa township, is the only mosquito-borne virus circulating in New Zealand that has been isolated. Even though at least one other mosquito-borne pathogen (avian malaria) has greatly increased in prevalence in New Zealand in recent decades, no surveillance for Whataroa virus in its vertebrate hosts has been carried out for four decades. This is of concern since Whataroa virus may infect humans, possibly causing influenza-like symptoms. Here we reassess the status of Whataroa virus in the same bird species in the same area where it was detected previously. Molecular diagnostics identified Whataroa virus in three out of 95 non-native birds screened: two out of eight song thrushes Turdus philomelos, and one out of nine blackbirds Turdus merula. The detection of virus in birds, in contrast with recent screening of mosquitoes, highlights how wildlife surveillance for pathogens can be far more effective than vector surveillance. Results of this survey indicate the virus has not increased substantially in prevalence since last monitored, possibly because of little change in the local mosquito vector community. Finally, virus detection in the two Turdus species alone supports earlier claims that these non-native hosts act as reservoirs that maintain the virus, sourcing spillover infections in other native and non-native species. A similar role for the blackbird in avian malaria epidemiology in New Zealand has also recently been hypothesized.

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Australian arboviruses: at what risk New Zealand?

Cited by 19 publications

References 6 publications

Is New Zealand prepared to deal with arboviral diseases?

Is New Zealand prepared to deal with arboviral diseases?

Emerging Infectious Diseases in an Island Ecosystem: The New Zealand Perspective

Whataroa virus four decades on: emerging, persisting, or fading out?

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