Risk Assessment for the Establishment of West Nile Virus in New Zealand

Eric B. Spurr & Graham R. Sandlant

Landcare Research Science Series No. 25

An assessment of the risk that West Nile virus (WNV) might establish in New Zealand was conducted by comparing the taxonomic relatedness of potential vectors and hosts in New Zealand to known WNV vectors and hosts overseas, and assessing whether WNV might survive and spread after arriving.

Authors also reviewed surveillance strategies currently used in North America to detect outbreaks of WNV, and assessed whether they are relevant to New Zealand or whether other strategies should be used. They obtained information by conducting a literature search using the Internet search engine Google™ and the Internet version of CAB Abstracts® (1973–2004), for the terms ‘West Nile virus’ and ‘West Nile virus vector’.

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Author: Eric B. Spurr & Graham R. Sandlant
ISBN: 978-0-47-809361-2
Publisher: Manaaki Whenua Press
Publication date: 2004
Pages: 27
Format: Spiralbound