KAIPARA - The Health Ministry will start spreading a growth regulator around Kaipara Harbour in Northland from tomorrow to try and eradicate exotic mosquitoes which can carry a debilitating disease.
Mosquito growth regulator S-methoprene -- which has already been successfully used in southern saltmarsh mosquito eradication programmes in Hawke's Bay and
Tairawhiti -- would now be applied in granule or pellet form around Kaipara.
"Applying control agents is necessary to attempt to eradicate this exotic pest," Health Ministry chief technical officer for health Sally Gilbert.
"There has never been an outbreak of a mosquito-borne disease in New Zealand and we want to keep it that way."
The southern saltmarsh mosquito is a potential carrier of the Ross River virus disease. Symptoms include pain and tenderness in muscles and joints, fever, chills, sweating, a headache and tiredness. A rash may also briefly appear on the torso and limbs.
Southern saltmarsh mosquito larvae were found in the Rodney District of Kaipara Harbour in February last year. Since then, the mosquitoes have been found in about 2700ha of habitat around the harbour.
Extensive public consultation work as well as ground and aerial mapping of the area have taken place in the lead-up to the full eradication programme.
Ms Gilbert said the Government approved the use of a full-scale eradication programme around Kaipara in June. This means a two-pronged attack with biological spray Bti, which is currently being used, and S-methoprene, which has not yet been used in Kaipara.
"We're targeting the life cycle of the southern saltmarsh mosquito over two summers to ensure we treat over two breeding seasons," she said.
Ms Gilbert said Bti and S-methoprene have had full health impact assessments and leave no long-term residue.
Disruption to the public will be limited as most sites being treated are in remote areas.
All affected landowners have been contacted, before applications from helicopters, quad bikes and people on foot start later this week.
Public notices about the spread are being placed in local papers this week. People wanting updated information on the application programme and sites can call 0800 MOZZIE (0800 669943) from tomorrow.
NZ Biosecure, whose staff have been involved in the control and eradication of the mosquito in the Tairawhiti and Hawke's Bay regions, have been contracted to run the southern saltmarsh mosquito programme and have set up base in the Kaipara area.
- NZPA
