Blood-thirsty tick stopped at Auckland airport

Haemaphysalis longicornis. Photo / Wikimedia Creative Commons

A mother who spotted a blood-thirsty tick embedded in her daughter's shoulder at Auckland airport did the right thing by alerting biosecurity officials, the Ministry for Primary Industries says.

The 5-year-old girl arrived at Auckland with her family from Norfolk Island on Monday.

"The mum saw the tick in the arrivals area and declared it to one of our quarantine officers," MPI's northern border clearance manager, passengers and mail Craig Hughes said.

"It was having a good chomp on her shoulder, so they allowed an officer to remove it in our lab with sterilised tweezers.

"It took a little time to get all the tick parts out of the young girl's skin, but she was very brave."

The tick was later identified as Haemaphysalis longicornis, which is found in New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia.

"We're rapt the family declared the tick. Ticks like this can carry diseases dangerous to New Zealand livestock, pets or humans," Mr Hughes said.

MPI had advised health authorities of the incident.