Warm Weather & Recent Rainfall will Increase Mosquito Breeding

With the recent rainfall and receding flood waters, pooling water can provide perfect conditions for mosquitos to breed.

This can result in more mosquitoes, increasing the potential for mosquito-borne diseases in our communities. Mosquitoes can carry viruses such as Ross River Fever, Barmah Forest Virus and your dogs can also contract heart worm.

What can You Do?

Simple things like “personal protection” and reducing water lying around your house.

Personal protection measures can reduce the risk of you and your family getting bitten by mosquitoes:

• use insect repellent (in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions), especially when outside at dawn or dusk
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
• use flying insect spray or plug-in insecticide devices to kill mosquitoes in-doors
• use bed nets, if available
• repair defective insect screens or fit new screens, if possible

You can also help control mosquitoes around the home:

• Pot plant bases: Preferably dispose of the base altogether. Alternatively, empty and clean the base weekly or add sand to absorb the water.

• Tins, tyres, jars, toys and rubbish items: Any items left lying around the yard that hold water will breed mosquitoes. Store items under cover and dispose of all unwanted items.
• Roof gutters: Clean out leaves and other debris regularly. Cut back and trim trees. Blocked gutters will breed mosquitoes.
• Bromeliads and other water holding plants: Other than removing the plants altogether use a high pressure hose to remove any mosquito larvae.
• Rainwater tanks, wells and drums: Large water holding containers must be screened with wire gauze no coarser than 1mm mesh.
• Bird baths, fish ponds and ornamental ponds: Clean weekly to remove mosquito larvae. Keep Australian native fish in your ponds.
• Swimming pools: Keep chlorinated and regularly operate the pool pump all year round.
• Drains or depressions: Maintain drains to allow for water flow. Fill in any depressions to prevent water ponding

Further information can be obtained on the Queensland Health website here.