Aedes aegypti or Dengue mosquito, carries the virus linked to potentially deadly Dengue Fever, and has been detected during routine exotic mosquito surveillance carried out by Top End Health Service in Tennant Creek, about 675km from Katherine.

In a statement, NT Health medical entomologist Bill Pettit said it was likely the mosquito was accidentally imported from Queensland via road transport, however other methods of introduction are possible.

NT Health officials travelled to Tennant Creek on Monday and will carry out mosquito surveillance and control in the town's residential backyards until Friday.

Mr Pettit said Dengue mosquito lives in close proximity to people, often breeding in artificial water containers like buckets around houses.

He said the whole of Tennant Creek will be inspected "to assess the distribution of the mosquito in the town" and residents can expect multiple visits.

"It is anticipated that follow up visits will be required to ensure the Dengue mosquito is eliminated."

Mr Pettit said elimination could take up to two years, but NT officials have experience with recent detections of the mosquito which did not lead to widespread outbreaks of disease.

"This mosquito was eliminated from the Northern Territory in the mid 1950s and has not become permanently established in the NT since," he said.

"Since the 1950s we've seen three short-term incursions to Tennant Creek in 2004 and 2011, and on Groote Eylandt in 2006, with elimination achieved through comprehensive two year programs."

In short, no not at this stage. An NT Health spokeswoman said the Dengue mosquito numbers in Tennant Creek are "minimal" and said there is no risk of an outbreak or detection outside the town at this stage.

The spokeswoman said the response to the detection will assess how severe the spread of the mosquito is in Tennant Creek.

She said if it develops in to an outbreak of disease like Dengue Fever, then Katherine and other NT towns can expect a visit from NT Health officials.

NT Health have asked Tennant Creek residents to assist officers in their inspections in the following ways:

To report backyard mosquito breeding in Tennant Creek, contact Medical Entomology on 89228901 or 0427979854.

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