Queensland's health authorities are undertaking research to determine if any other species of mosquito can spread the devastating Zika virus, as the state prepares for its potential spread onto its tropical shores.
The virus, which has led to Brazillian authorities warning women against falling pregnant, is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are also responsible for the spread of dengue fever.
The mosquitoes become carriers when they bite someone infected the virus, spreading the disease through further bites. While the illness itself is believed to be mostly mild, authorities believe it could be responsible for the birth defect microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with shrunken heads, with the virus also transmitted from mothers to their children during pregnancy.
Brazil has experienced a rash of cases of the usually rare condition since identifying the Zika outbreak, prompting its government to advise women against falling pregnant, which has been echoed by El Salvador.
Indonesian health authorities reported a positive case of Zika in 2015.
Given Queensland's climate, Health Minister Cameron Dick said he had sought a briefing from Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young in relation to Zika and said preparations were being made, with north Queensland considered most at risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.
"The preliminary advice is that it will be monitored as we monitor all infectious diseases in Queensland," he said.
"I'm going to talk more to the Chief Health Officer about Zika, whether there's any further planning we need to do or further preparation we need to do, whether we need to stand up our hospital and health services in relation to that.
"My advice is that it's not a significant risk to Queensland at this time but we're going to continue to monitor that and I've asked the Chief Health Officer to keep a close eye on that moving forward and if there's anything further the government needs to do to support public health responses, we will do that."
Mr Dick said he had asked his Director-General and Dr Young about whether it was necessary to raise the issue at a national level.
"We'll take some advice on the risk of further development of the disease in Queensland first and Australia," he said.
"Often these diseases need a national response, they can't be left simply to state jurisdictions, so I'm taking some advice on whether we need to elevate that at the next COAG Health Minister's Council.
"If there's more that needs to be done I'll write directly to (federal Health Minister) Sussan Ley and raise it with her, but I'm just getting some advice in the short term to see what we need to do first and then we will take it from there."
A communique has been provided to GPs, emergency departments, public and private health units as well as laboratories, paediatricians and obstetricians and infectious disease physicians with information of the current situation, while Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services researches whether any other mosquito is capable of transmitting the disease.
An agreement has been reached with the Red Cross and Queensland Health to provide information on any local infections to ensure the safety of blood supplies, and Mr Dick said the department was also monitoring the Torres Strait, as part of its usual infectious disease checking.
"That would possibly be one vector of entry or one possible path of entry into Queensland," he said.
