A batch of the mosquito which carries the Zika virus has been found in a drain near the Auckland Airport.

The Aedes Mosquito is often found in warmer climates, and if contacted by pregnant women can result in them giving birth to deformed babies.

An Aedes mosquito that can transmit the Zika virus.

Media reports around the virus exploded in January when the Ministry of Health received notifications from nine travellers who arrived to NZ from the South Pacific. Read more here.

Since then, the MOH has been working on a vaccine for the virus, but says it is at least two to five years away from being completed.

Acting Director of Public Health Dr Stewart Jessamine says the biggest concern seems to be to keep the Aedes mosquito out of the country.

He says while extremely unlikely, it's "theoretically possible" the mosquito could establish itself by being introduced through baggage. They could make a home around an airport and then spread out into wetlands and drains.

Auckland customs have found baggage they've opened where mosquitoes have flown out, reports Stuff, and they were "nearly always caught".

Symptoms of the virus, which was closely related to dengue, were normally mild, with a low-grade fever, joint pain, conjunctivitis, headache and a red, bumpy rash, but have not been classified as a serious illness.