Southern saltmarsh mosquito case study
Southern saltmarsh mosquito eradication was handled by the Ministry of Health until legislation transferred accountability to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Biosecurity New Zealand. Ian Gear as Manager, Incursion Responses, completed the transfer of ownership while seamlessly continuing the eradication and addressing further incursions.
The problem: A vector for Ross River virus
When southern saltmarsh mosquito (Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus) was discovered in New Zealand in 1988 the Ministry of Health held accountability for biosecurity responses to public health disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Southern saltmarsh mosquito is a known vector of Ross River Virus in Australia.
Successful eradications
The Ministry of Health had successfully eradicated southern saltmarsh mosquito from sites on the eastern coast of New Zealand. Sites in the Kaipara Harbour and Marlborough were actively being managed to eradicate the populations present in those locations.
Change accountability
Following the release of the New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy “Tiakina Aotearoa – Protect New Zealand” a decision was made to transfer accountability for all biosecurity responses of national interest to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
Result
Ian Gear, then Manager Incursion Responses, completed the transfer of the southern saltmarsh mosquito eradication project from the Ministry of Health to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
During the period of the transfer southern saltmarsh mosquito was found by the National Surveillance Programme to be in the Coromandel Peninsula.
Eradication activities for southern saltmarsh mosquito continue at the Kaipara, Coromandel and Marlborough sites.
The problem: A vector for Ross River virus
When southern saltmarsh mosquito (Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus) was discovered in New Zealand in 1988 the Ministry of Health held accountability for biosecurity responses to public health disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Southern saltmarsh mosquito is a known vector of Ross River Virus in Australia.
Successful eradications
The Ministry of Health had successfully eradicated southern saltmarsh mosquito from sites on the eastern coast of New Zealand. Sites in the Kaipara Harbour and Marlborough were actively being managed to eradicate the populations present in those locations.
Change accountability
Following the release of the New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy “Tiakina Aotearoa – Protect New Zealand” a decision was made to transfer accountability for all biosecurity responses of national interest to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
Result
Ian Gear, then Manager Incursion Responses, completed the transfer of the southern saltmarsh mosquito eradication project from the Ministry of Health to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
During the period of the transfer southern saltmarsh mosquito was found by the National Surveillance Programme to be in the Coromandel Peninsula.
Eradication activities for southern saltmarsh mosquito continue at the Kaipara, Coromandel and Marlborough sites.