DISEASE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1929, Page 3

DISEASE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES

TWO SPECIES FOUND

INTRODUCED BY OVERSEA VESSELS.

AUCKLAND, Alay 30

The malaria mosquEo Aiiophe.es maculepeiini.s lias been discovered on a steamer which recently arrived from Singapore. Tile discoverer was Hie research officer of the Auckland .Mosquito Control Committee, of which Air Gilbert Archery is secretary.

Questioned this morning as to the possibilities that were opened up by the presence of these unwelcome immigrants, Air Archery said that the mosquito bad been found in Hie bold of a. steamer from .Singapore. That was, lie declared, a fact of considerable importance, not only because investigations had shown that this particular mosquito had been brought here; but also, that mosquitoes had been found on ships from Sydney. Air D. Hi Graham, research officer of the committee, had come to the conclusion, from the limited distribution of the two species, that C'ulox iatigans, a night-biting mosquito, and Ades notoscriptus, a spotted daytime-biting Mosquito, bad been introduced to tin* main uorts of New Zealand.

The important, point was that On 1e * latigans was the transmitter in tropical countries of elephantiasis, lo t - instance in ,Samoa, and possibly also o! dengue fever.

Investigations showed that the possibility of the introduction of Ann-, plielos was more likely than had been supposed. On lex and Ades bad been introduced, and bad already become typical Auckland mosquitoes. There were two species of Acles, which were sister species to the ye.low fever mosquito, but be did not wish to infer that we. were going to have yellow fever which is a tropical disease. There were species ol Ades ill many parts of the world.

It was important that steps should be taken to prevent the introduction of dangerous mosquitoes, as many of our people were malaria subjects, particularly since the war. Should a Carrier be<ome established in this subtr.pical climate, spread of the disease might follow. The committee wa< merely a research body, and the question of taking measures of prevention was one for the -pub ic health authorities. One obvious tiling to do was to sen that mosquitoes had no breeding grounds ashore', even if ibey did come here on overseas steamers.

In conclusion, Mr Areliey emphasised the fact that the malaria mosquito which had arrived from. Singapore was a female with qgg-layiiig'capacity, and would never do to let her kind get established here.