Be a 'Zika Mozzie Seeker'

We need your help to search for 'Zika mosquitoes' (Aedes aegypti 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 backyard mosquito egg traps (supplied by us), 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 for the DNA of Aedes aegypti 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.

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 (especially Aedes aegypti) and confirm our belief that they are not present in our region of South East Queensland.

'Zika mosquitoes' are domestic species – they live in backyards and the adults are unlikely to fly more than 200 metres from breeding sites (commonly artificial containers that hold water).

How do I take part?

We are looking for Zika Mozzie Seekers who can take part in the next stage of the project in October/November 2017 and March/April 2018. If you'd like to take part, please click here to register online.

What happens once I have registered?

In early October 2017 you will be sent a free a 'egg collection kit' in the post, 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 via email and SMS.