Summary
- take personal protective measures like using personal insect repellent and wear light-coloured clothing
- take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on properties.
With wet conditions persisting throughout much of the region, Torres Strait, Cape York, and Northern Peninsula Area residents should take all possible precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
While mosquitoes are active all year round, they tend to be far more prevalent in wetter seasonal conditions, such as we are currently experiencing.
Across our region, we have already had cases of mosquito-borne infections, including Ross River virus, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya. Our neighbours in Papua New Guinea also are affected.
Infection with mosquito-borne diseases may cause illness ranging from mild to very serious. Illness may include flu-like symptoms such as:
- pain in muscles and joints
- rashes
- headaches
- fever.
But no matter the time of year, or the conditions, our advice to local communities remains the same.
The very best protection against mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place.
Council mosquito control measures, public education campaigns and vaccination if available for the condition 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, which tend to last longer than other repellents, depending on the concentration. 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. Oil of lemon eucalyptus also can be used.
- 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.
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.
Learn more about how to prevent mosquito bites on the Queensland Government website.