Summary
- avoid being bitten by mosquitoes this wet season
- eliminate mosquito breeding sites on your properties and protect yourself from mosquito bites
- use insect repellent and wear light-coloured clothing
Torres Strait, Cape York, and Northern Peninsula Area residents are being urged to take all possible precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes this wet season.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Marlow Coates said while mosquitoes were active all year round, they tended to be far more prevalent in normally wetter seasonal conditions between November and April.
“But no matter the time of year, our advice to local communities remains the same,’’ he said.
“The very best protection against mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place.
“Some mosquito-borne diseases circulate locally and are relatively common, such as Ross River fever and Barmah Forest virus disease. We have had five cases of each within the health service region so far this year.
“There are also sometimes imported human cases of dengue fever which can lead to local dengue cases, although we have had no cases of dengue fever across the region so far this year.
“However, earlier in the year, we recorded five cases of malaria in the Torres Strait, the first since 2013.
“Last year, cases of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) also were recorded in Queensland, as well as elsewhere in Australia, and could re-occur.
“Mosquito control and public education campaigns can only do so much.
“All residents also need to do their part and take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their properties and protect themselves from mosquito bites.’’
Personal protective measures include:
- Wear light-coloured clothing, (long-sleeved shirts and long pants wherever possible to cover exposed skin).
- Use personal insect repellent containing DEET (di-ethyl toluamide) or Picaridin. DEET and Picaridin are safe for use by pregnant women. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Repellents usually only protect against mosquito bites for up to four hours.
- Use long-lasting ‘surface’ or ‘cockroach’ insecticide spray in places where mosquitoes can hide.
- Use other mosquito protection devices such as electric zappers and mosquito coils.
- Install insect screens that are in good working order in your home and office. If not, sleep under a mosquito net day and night.
- Tip it, store it, throw it — tip out water from containers weekly, or dry store containers under cover and discard rubbish properly. Mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water. Remember, under the Public Health Act 2005, you can be fined by your local council if your home or yard promotes the breeding of mosquitoes.
“If you follow these simple instructions, you can minimise substantially the risk of being bitten and infected with a mosquito-borne virus,’’ Dr Coates said.
“And remember, even mosquito bites that do not transmit diseases can be harmful.
“Bites can be very irritating and itchy, causing some people to scratch them until they break the skin, leading to secondary infection.’’
To prevent skin infections from mosquito bites:
- Try to avoid scratching the bite.
- Apply calamine lotion or another anti-pruritic preparation to bite areas to prevent itching,
- Keep affected limbs elevated,
- Wash hands before and after touching open wounds,
- Watch skin sores for signs of infection.
If the bite areas become inflamed, clean with soap and water at least once a day, apply an antiseptic lotion and keep covered with a dry dressing.
Application of a cool compress (i.e. icepack wrapped in cloth) also can reduce inflammation. If skin sores become hot, red, swollen, or painful, see your doctor immediately.
Read more about mosquito-borne diseases on the Queensland Government web site.