All Blacks to monitor Samoan mosquito virus

New Zealand Rugby officials are confident a mosquito-transmitted disease in Samoa and an annoying drain won't threaten the All Blacks' historic Test in Apia.



NZR chief executive Steve Tew said on Friday that neither issue is a cause of panic and is confident the Test on July 8 will go ahead as scheduled.

It will be the first time the All Blacks have played a sanctioned Test in the Pacific Islands.



The chief concern is an outbreak of chikungunya, which carries similar symptoms to another mosquito-borne virus, dengue fever.

More than 4000 cases have been reported in Samoa since July l…