There's good news and bad news about the implications of the Zika virus for New Zealand.
Scientists are assuring people that cases of it being sexually transmitted are rare but they're also saying don't assume the 15 mosquito species in New Zealand aren't potential carriers.
Dr Jose Derraik, senior research fellow at the University of Auckland's Liggins Institute, says there simply hasn't been enough research about the potential of mosquitoes in New Zealand to be carriers.
The mosquito species Aedes aegypti has been identified as the main transmitter of Zika infections, which have been linked to thousands of birth defects as the virus spreads rapidly in Brazil and other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Scientists in Brazil announced on Wednesday that they were able to infect another species, Culex quinquefasciatus, with the virus in a laboratory.
Culex quinquefasciatus was the first foreign mosquito to become established in New Zealand, having been here since at least 1848. It is present in much of the North Island and in northern areas of the South Island, says Dr Derraik.
"So, while it is correct to say that the known mosquito vectors of Zika virus are not present in New Zealand, it is misguided, and potentially dangerous, to assume that we do not have mosquito vectors capable of transmitting the virus."
He says the Zika virus has been very poorly studied until the outbreak in Brazil, which means scientists simply do not know whether the species of mosquitoes in New Zealand are able to transmit the virus to humans.
His comments come as the Ministry of Health assures people it's rare for the virus to be sexually transmitted.
The ministry did so after it appeared a man who contracted the virus had passed it on to his female partner who had never travelled to a Zika-affected country.
The ministry said the virus had either been sexually transmitted or a mosquito had come in the man's luggage, which had then infected his partner.
University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Siouxsie Wiles said it was unlikely a mosquito with the virus had reached the country.
There were a handful of cases documenting possible sexual transmission of the virus from men to women, she said.
"Sexual transmission of the virus is not the main route of infection. It is still quite rare."
An investigation into the New Zealand case is ongoing, but both infected people have now fully recovered.
