Asian tiger mosquito detected on Australian mainland for the first time
Aedes albopictus, one of the world's most invasive mosquito species, has been detected on the Australian mainland for the first time in a Queensland community. The species had previously only been found at ports and on offshore islands. Authorities have moved quickly to roll out biosecurity measures.
According to the ABC, the species was detected during routine surveillance in the community of Bamaga in northern Queensland. Aedes albopictus is recognised as a vector capable of carrying viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika; it earns its "barbecue stopper" nickname for its daytime activity and ability to adapt to urban environments.
The Queensland Department of Health and the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment have boosted larval surveillance traps, fast-tracked checks of household water-storage sites and launched aerosol-based interventions across the area.
Experts note that the area where the species was found is a logistics hub with heavy aircraft and shipping traffic. A new vector risk-mapping exercise has begun to assess potential spread further south in Australia, with the results due to be shared within three weeks.
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