Department of Health
The Top End Health Service is urging people to protect themselvesfrom salt marsh mosquitoes, as numbers are expected to increase in NT coastalareas due to the high tides last week. Elevated numbers are expected from 8October, lasting 7 to 10 days.
Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz, said the increaseof salt marsh mosquito numbers will occur despite mosquito control carried outby the Medical Entomology unit in Darwin, which included spraying of 170hectares of salt marsh mosquito breeding area in swamps adjacent to Darwinsnorthern suburbs.
The Medical Entomology unit conducts surveys via helicopteraround swamps, on foot in urban areas and in liaison with the NT Parks andWildlife Commission in Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Charles Darwin ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Parkand the Botanic Gardens to determine areas where spraying is required.
This is the time of the year when high tides and rainfalltrigger extensive salt marsh mosquito breeding until monsoonal rains flood allthe breeding areas, Ms Kurucz said.
She explained that there is only a narrow window of aboutthree days to effectively spray the larvae (juvenile mosquitoes) in thebreeding areas. Darwin is surrounded by swamps and with a flight range of 50km,these mosquitoes will make their way into Darwin, Palmerston and rural areasfrom outside the control area.
Salt marsh mosquitoes can carry the Ross River virus.Although the high risk period for RRV starts in December, the virus can becontracted all year around. This means people need to start taking precautionsto avoid being bitten, Ms Kurucz said.
To avoidbeing bitten Top Enders are advised to:
- avoid locations near coastal swamps and mangrove areas
- use mosquito-proof accommodation and camping facilities at night
- wear light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers and socks, especially between dusk and dawn in areas where mosquito bites are likely
- use a protective repellent containing 20 per cent DEET or Picaridin as a supplement to protective clothing, with creams providing best protection
- use mosquito coils, mosquito lanterns, and barrier sprays in patio and outdoor areas near houses
- ensure children and animals are adequately protected against mosquito bites.
A salt marsh mosquito pest calendar isavailable on the Medical Entomology website:
.
