Authorities are setting up a rapid testing centre for Zika virus in North Queensland.

Local experts are no strangers to mosquito-borne diseases, with efforts to eradicate Dengue fever running across the north for decades.

Given that the same mosquito can carry both Zika and Dengue (and 20 other viruses), north Queensland has begun increasing protections in what is already a familiar field.

The State Government is spending $400,000 on new mosquito laboratory equipment and a new testing centre in Townsville.

It is also launching a $1 million awareness campaign, the at-risk areas of far north Queensland in particular.

But Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says that while the virus is spreading overseas, the domestic threat is quite minimal.

So the Federal Government has looked at way to help our nearest neighbours, pledging up to $500,000 in aid to Tonga over the weekend.

Pacific Minister Steven Ciobo has issued a statement saying the money would be used to strengthen the fight against the mosquito-borne virus in conjunction with World Health Organisation (WHO) officials.

The international teams will work to keep the mosquito population under control and increase testing.

The tiny South Pacific island nation has officially declared a Zika outbreak, with five confirmed cases confirmed and over 259 suspected.

“Stopping the spread of Zika in the Pacific is essential to protecting Australia from the virus, which has seen a resurgence in our region,” Mr Ciobo said.

On a related matter, researchers are still trying to understand the effects of Zika, especially its possible link to birth defects.