An Independent Review of New Zealand's Biosecurity Surveillance Systems-Human Health

Background & Disclaimer

Human Health

Includes: Exotic mosquitos, exotic zoonoses, toxic dinoflagellates, vectors of human diseases, venomous snakes and invertebrates. It specifically excludes endemic zoonoses covered under the Health Act.

Conclusions

  • The toxic dinoflagellate programme appears to be well designed and sensitive.
  • At the time of this assignment there was already an independent audit of the mosquito Surveillance programme under way. We did not therefore attempt to assess the performance of the programme. As it was presented to us the programme seemed robust and well designed. However, we have no reasons to dispute the findings or the recommendations of the independent review.
  • A comprehensive analysis is needed to determine what additional programmes may be required for this sector as well as how they should be funded and managed.

Risk factors specific to the sector:

  • Rapid growth in adventure tourism is creating new incursion pathways which are very difficult to target [48];
  • Global change is increasing risks of mosquitos and other vectors of human diseases arriving and establishing in New Zealand [49];
  • Increased immigration from areas where human vector-borne diseases are endemic (e.g. parts of Asia and South America)
  • Increased shipping trade with nations having endemic marine zoonoses (e.g. e.g. parts of Asia and South America)

Surveillance objectives:

  • Detection of all exotic species of mosquitos of human health significance soon enough to allow effective response;
  • Detection of venomous species;
  • Detection of toxic dinoflagellate blooms early enough to warn people not to harvest seafood.

Surveillance processes:

  • Sentinel surveys near ports for mosquitos;
  • Passive Surveillance for other venomous species;
  • Enhanced habitat Surveillance for SSM using BIOSECURE [50] model used to target habitats.

Strengths:

  • The toxic dinoflagellate programme appears to be well-designed and sensitive;
  • The mosquito programme is aligned to developments in Australia;
  • There is some screening of mosquitos for arbovirusues;
  • Objectives are set for NZ Mosquito programme [51];
  • A Surveillance review is underway to review objectives and plans, ID database needs and evaluate predictive tools [52].

Weaknesses:

  • There are no documented objectives or performance indicators established yet;
  • Level of funding of the Mosquito programme is undefined. Some work is centrally funded, including diagnostic capability but the bulk of the work in the field is funded by DHAs within their public health programmes;
  • Surveillance activities other than SSM have no cost-justified objectives but some are subject to international reporting obligations;
  • The MAF/MoH MOU currently provides no guidance for Surveillance activities in this sector [53];
  • There appears to be no planned Surveillance for exotic zoonoses such as Lyme disease, flea rickettsials or FW or marine vectored zoonoses;
  • There appears to be no specific planning for Surveillance activities adjacent to facilities approved under HSNO for escaped GMOs;
  • MoH appears to have no input into Surveillance decisions relating to either exotic or introduced toxic plants;
  • RCs appear to have no involvement with this area of Surveillance activity.

Page last updated: 16 October 2008