Malaria Mosquito May be Imported

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 443, 27 August 1928, Page 13

Malaria Mosquito May be Imported

DANGER TO AUCKLAND

DISEASE CONTRACTED There is a danger, although a remote one, that malaria and yellow fever might be introduced into New Zealand by mosquitoes, which could travel here on ships from Australia, the Pacific Islands or Panama. The possibility that this may have already happened is raised by the New Zealand Medical Journal’s record of a case of malaria. A Christchurch visitor to Auckland contracted malaria fever, in conjunction with influenzal pneumonia, and; the journal’s conclusion is that the’ infection occurred in New Zealand, probably in Auckland. This is the first case of malaria to occur originally in the. Dominion. AJalaria infection is spread by a variety of mosquito anapheles which, says the Government entomologist, Mr. David Miller, “cannot be said with certainty to occur or not to occur in New Zealand.” Mr. Miller also says:—“The only feature pointing to the possibility of anopheles being here is that at Kaitaia I saw a female which certainly had anopheline characteristics. There can be no doubt, however, that anopheles is not established in New Zealand, though there are many chances of that species of genus reaching this country. It is possible that drinking water in ship’s cabins could become infested, with eggs at Panama, and if the water were not disturbed or even completely used during the voyage mosquitoes could breed well.” YELLOW FEVER ALSO Dr. T. J. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health at Auckland, said:—“We must keep in mind the fact that malaria may possibly be introduced through the mosquito. There is no reason, so far, to believe that the anopheles is actively present. But a mosquito may live for 100 days, so that it could travel on a ship from Queensland, from Panama, or the Pacific Islands. Yellow fever could also come in this way.” He said that a mosquito committee in Auckland had been working for several years, in co-operation with the City Council. Ordinary mosquitoes were a big enough pest to deserve determined efforts at extermination. Dr. Gilmour, bacteriologist at the Auckland Hospital said that although there was no proof of the anopheles existing here, every possible measure should be taken to keep them out. The case mentioned by the Medical Journal was evidently a definite one of malaria because the parasites had been found in the patient’s blood.