NZBEL 2026

Kia ora koutou katoa, It’s been a hot and humid start to the year, and mosquito activity has been ramping up fast! This month, our focus shifts to reporting suspected exotic mosquitoes, outlining what to look for and the steps to take if you think you’ve encountered an unusual species. In the news we have a selection including; how new malaria tools helped save an estimated one million lives in 2024, while rising drug resistance threatens to slow progress;  ground breaking work from Griffith University on a promising vaccine to protect against chikungunya; explore new research showing how shrinking forests are pushing mosquitoes to feed more on humans, increasing disease risk; and a report on the detection of African-lineage Zika virus in free-ranging primates in southern Brazil — raising important questions about viral circulation and spill over. Happy reading!

Kia ora Koutou, As we move into autumn, we’re pleased to report that mosquito numbers are finally starting to take the hint and slowly disappear from our surveillance areas. April also brought the Easter period, with plenty of travel and movement across regions (and possibly a few chocolate-fuelled adventures), serving as a timely reminder that strong biosecurity and health measures are just as important as ever—even when the mosquitoes seem to be packing up for the season. In the news this month, explore how genetic research is revealing early signs of insecticide adaptation in South America’s primary malaria vector, and how climate-driven extreme weather is fuelling major dengue outbreaks... and more

Kia ora koutou katoa, April the 25th was the World Malaria Day, an international observance that recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Watch a message from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. In the news this month, explore both the progress made and the ongoing global challenges in combating one of the world’s most important mosquito-borne diseases. Discover how climate change is reshaping mosquito distributions, with mosquitoes now detected in Iceland for the first time, highlighting the growing importance of surveillance as warming temperatures open new regions to arthropod invaders. Learn about innovative research using mosquitoes’ own immune responses to uncover hidden viruses missed by conventional detection methods, potentially transforming the future of mosquito-borne disease surveillance...and more