Natural hazards

Biological hazards

What are the biological hazards?

There are a large range of biological hazards that if not controlled or avoided, could cause significant loss of life or severely affect New Zealand's economy, agricultural and fishery industries, health (human & animal), and infrastructure (e.g. water supply and treatment networks).

Plagues and epidemic can cause widespread loss of life, Foot and Mouth disease could seriously affect the agriculture industry, algal blooms can affect water supply, the swift growing Kudzu Vine, and the fruit fly can seriously affect agricultural and horticultural industries, Painted Apple moth could threaten forestry exports. 

Due to our economic dependence on horticultural, agricultural and forestry industries, and limited historical exposure to disease, New Zealand is very susceptible to biological hazards.

What are the possible consequence of biological hazards?

Biological hazards could have any of the following consequences:

Animal disease/epidemic e.g. Mad Cows Disease

• Destruction of and economic losses to Auckland's dairy and cattle industries.
• Loss of exports from these markets.
• Reduction in or cessation of some imports.
• Loss of employment and some businesses.
• Competition and habitat reduction for some native animal species and loss of these species from the Auckland region.
• Spread of disease to other animals.
• Serious human health risks.

Human epidemic

• Loss of Life:
  - Stretched medical services
  - Widespread social and psychological disruption and isolation
  - Absence of staff could lead to loss of production and significant economic losses.
• Loss of international reputation and tourism, with roll-on effect for some years following recovery.
• Restricted access to some international destinations for both export products and human population.
• Loss of some export markets.

Animal Disease/Epidemic

• Destruction of and economic losses to Auckland's forestry, fruit and produce, wine or fisheries industries.
• Loss of exports from the above markets.
• Loss of employment and businesses.
• Habitat reduction and loss of some species from Auckland region.
  

Historical Events

Foot and Mouth

There has never been a case of Foot and Mouth Disease in New Zealand, in people nor animals. Hand foot and mouth disease is an unrelated disease of humans.

Classical Swine Fever

Classical swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs that can cause high mortalities. There have been two cases reported in New Zealand.

Painted Apple Moth

The leaf-eating caterpillar of the Painted Apple Moth is a big risk to New Zealand's forests and horticulture. This pest is living in some parts of west Auckland where it was first discovered in May 1999. This pest may be eradicated by spraying which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Ross River Virus

The southern saltmarsh mosquito known to carry the virus that causes Ross River disease, Aedes camptorhyncus, was found in New Zealand for the first time in December 1998, in the Hawke's Bay. It has since also been found in parts of Tairawhiti, in the Kaipara and in some parts of east Auckland.