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Zika Mozzie Seeker

Be a 'Zika Mozzie Seeker'

Registration is open for Round 6: (September - October 2019)

We need your help to search for 'Zika mosquitoes' (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species - that have the potential to spread viruses such as Zika or dengue).

As part of the 'Zika Mozzie Seeker' project, we're asking the public in our region to set up DIY backyard mosquito egg traps, collect the eggs and send them in for analysis.

The project uses revolutionary screening technology developed by Queensland Health and is a world-first for mosquito monitoring.

We will mass screen the eggs you collect for traces of the DNA of Aedes aegypti  and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. This will allow us to increase our confidence that such mosquitoes are not in our region and detect any invasions of these mosquitoes more easily.

 

How do I take part?

We are looking for Zika Mozzie Seekers to take part in Round 6 2019. Note: to take part you must live in the Metro South Health region: Brisbane southside, Logan, Redland/Bayside, Beaudesert and parts of the Scenic Rim.
Please click here to register online

What happens once I have registered?

You will be sent a free 'egg collection kit' in the post when Round 6 starts in your area, which provides all the items you need (apart from a container filled with water) to create your mozzie egg trap. Also look out for project updates on this website.

What kind of mozzies are we looking for?

Zika and Dengue are largely spread by two domestic mosquito species (Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These 'Zika mosquitoes' are present elsewhere in Queensland but have not been detected in South East Queensland recently. This project will help us search for these mosquitoes to increase confidence that they are not present in our region of South East Queensland.

'Zika mosquitoes' are domestic species – they live in yards of houses and businesses and the adults are unlikely to fly more than 500 metres from breeding sites (commonly artificial containers that hold water). These mosquito species are not found in swamps and drains.

Useful links and more mozzie info

Reports

Research articles

Related projects

Mozzie Monitors (University of South Australia – participants trap mozzies and send photographs of the mozzies to researchers)

Recognition

Zika Mozzie Seekers recognised in national Eureka Science Awards

 
The Zika Mozzie Seeker initiative was recently a finalist for the 2019 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science thanks to the valuable contributions of hundreds of Zika Mozzie Seekers. 
 
Brian Montgomery (project manager) and the team are thrilled with the national recognition and look forward to continuing the program in Metro South Health. 
 
The innovative combination of citizen science, IT solutions and DNA testing is an effective early warning system for Zika mozzie invasions. It is a great example of Queensland Health combining forces with the community and sharing responsibility for an important health risk. 
 
Over the last 2.5 years, the testing of mosquito eggs collected from your yards has increased our confidence that Zika mosquitoes have not yet invaded of our region, which protects us from outbreaks. So far, all 200,000 eggs collected have tested negative for Zika mozzies. 
 
Community participation in this hands-on citizen science program is key to the success and sustainability of the project. These mozzies typically do not fly more than a few hundred metres from breeding sites (artificial containers that can hold water), which means we require lots of Zika Mozzie Seekers from across our region (southern half of Brisbane, Redlands, Logan and parts of the Scenic Rim). 
The challenge remains to find Zika mozzies in Metro South Health before they can carry exotic diseases such as Zika, dengue or chikungunya. 
 
There are a lot of Zika Mozzie Seekers who have participated in multiple rounds, showing the project is sustainable and translatable into other regions. Round 5 participants will automatically receive another kit in the next few months. If you do not want a kit, please contact us.
 
If you are a Metro South Health resident who has not registered before, you’re invited to register for Round 6 (September – October 2019).
Last updated 16 October 2019
Last reviewed 18 April 2019