Exotic Mosquito Surveillance Program around Major Ports Dr Satya Yadav Regional Vector Coordinator, Dept. of Agriculture and Water Resources

Historical Prospective The 1996 Prof. Nairn Review into Australia’s quarantine standard highlighted the ad hoc vector monitoring(VM) that was being conducted by AQIS. Vector Monitoring Working Group (VMWQ) was created for nationally consistent VM practices. Prof R. Russell Report 1998 (ext) and S. Russell Report 2004 (int) which included Defence sites

Objective To monitor and control the mosquito population in the 400m radius of each port, thereby preventing importation and exportation of mosquitoes with disease vector capability.

International Obligations World Health Organisation (WHO) and their International Health Regulations (IHR) WHO IHR Annex - 5 A 400m radius around ports is to be kept free from mosquitoes capable of hosting human disease Goals are to detect, reduce or eliminate sources from which infections may spread; improve sanitation; prevent dissemination of vectors

Diseases and the Health Perspective A resurgence of infectious diseases has arisen due to many factors including: - long-distance trade - greater human travel - environmental challenges like climate change - unplanned urbanisation - inappropriate use of pesticides - human settlement near wetlands and forests - social and political disruption

Mosquito Vector Mozzies are responsible for more than one million deaths each year worldwide – that’s more than one hundred times the deaths caused by sharks, crocodiles and box jellyfish combined. Mosquitoes are best known for carrying malaria, a ‘vector-borne’ disease that around 3.4 billion people – or half of the world’s population – are at risk of contracting.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases Diseases of Import Concern: West Nile virus Dengue Fever Chikengunya Japanese Encephalitis Malaria Filariasis Diseases of Export Concern: Australian Encephalitis (MVE and Kunijn) Ross River Barmah Forest Viruses and Yellow Fever

First Port Vector Monitoring Program The “Russell Report” In 1998 Prof. Richard Russell (medical entomologist) visited first ports at the request of the AQIS Vector Monitoring Working Group. Prof. Russell reviewed AQIS VM procedures, assigned risk profiles for each port and provided recommendations for vector monitoring.

Vulnerability & Receptivity Risk categories were based upon port: Vulnerability: of the port for mosquito incursions (i.e. types of vessels arriving, their ports of origin and types of cargo) and; Receptivity: of the port for establishment of exotic species of concern (i.e. presence of suitable mosquito habitats and favourable environmental conditions)

The Risk Categories Category Risk Vulnerability Receptivity 1 Very High High 2 Moderate 3 4 Low 5 Very Low

Australian Quarantine Ports and their Vector Introduction Risk

Seaports Risk Russell report found that overall: Seaports have a much greater vulnerability and receptivity than airports Ships carrying receptacles capable of holding water coming from Asia constitute the highest vulnerability risk Australian Ports with drums, tyres, machinery etc on or near wharves constitute the highest receptivity

Airport Mosquito Control Disinsection Program All first porting aircraft must have either– disinsection agreement and/or be manually disinsected when landing in Australia Provides security against mosquitoes being imported and exported by aircraft Covers cabin and hold Molecular assays are done to audit aircraft

Vector Monitoring Trapping Techniques

NSW Vector Monitoring In total at 11 Locations

Trapping Techniques Why we do trapping? Trapping is a backup defense against importations of exotic mosquitoes Types of traps AQIS use:- Adult Traps – Light (light+CO2) and BG Traps Larval Traps – Sentinel Tyres Egg Traps - Ovitraps

Light Trapping CO2 released into the breeze Diode emits light and heat Fan sucks in the mosquitoes Held in storage container

The BG-Sentinel: Biogents' mosquito trap the BG-Sentinel is an excellent surveillance tool for mosquitoes in general. mimics convection currents created by a human body. employs attractive visual cues releases artificial skin emanations through a large surface area. can be used with or without CO2

Importance of Light Trapping Why? Indicates port receptivity Records local species May identify incursion When? Dependant on risk category: Risk Cat. 1& 2 – 2 to 4 sites weekly Risk Cat. 3, 4 & 5 – when required

Sentinel Tyre Traps Good traps for container breeders Why? Good traps for container breeders Dark, sheltered interior, rapid aging of water When? Dependant on risk category: Risk Cat. 1– 6 sites weekly Risk Cat. 2 & 3 – 4 sites weekly Risk Cat. 4 & 5 - 4 sites weekly (>10°C)

Sentinel Tyre Traps Tyres are favorite breeding places for container breeders Tyres - <500mm dia., cloth ply, thin walled 50mm hole in wall Attractive but risky to maintain

Ovi-traps Why? They allow rapid reporting of an incursion of container breeding species, particularly Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus When? Dependant on risk category

Types of ovi-traps

Pathways Air January 2007 PowerPoint Template Aircraft Disinsection Treated residually every 8 weeks or TOD Random auditing of aircrafts by molecular assays January 2007 PowerPoint Template

Pathways Sea Higher level of trapping and monitoring due to higher risk (more receptive & vulnerable)

Pathways – Sea freight cont Illegal FFV’s

Pathways – Sea freight cont Other vehicles etc January 2007 PowerPoint Template

Pathways – Sea freight cont Tarps on containers

Pathways – Sea freight cont Yachts and tyres

Vector –Surveillance & Dipping

Surveillance Strategy for Vectors at First Ports Requirements of Vector Program: Surveillance: the detection, reduction or elimination of sources from which infection may spread Remediation: maintenance of sanitation in and around the port

Ground Surveillance Why? Ensures port sanitation Recommend remediation activities Confirms highest risk sites are being monitored When? Dependant on risk category: Risk Cat. 1 & 2 – Monthly (wet season) (November to April) Risk Cat. 3 to 5 – Twice Yearly (November and March)

Old tyres

Pools of water on ground

Machinery parts

Ponds, marsh and swamp areas

Drains

Plants

Target Mosquito Species Exotic target species are: Aedes aegypti (where it does not naturally occur) Aedes albopictus Exotic Anopheles spp. Other exotic species Target species for export prevention are: Aedes aegypti (endemic in North Queensland) Aedes camptorhynchus Aedes vigilax Anopheles annulipes Anopheles farauti Culex annulirostris

Exotic detections at the boarder since the start of 2014 Airport Detections =40 Seaport Detections =03 Cargo/Surveillance Detections =04 Prior to last year average exotic detections per year were =5-6

Thank You