Residents in the Barkly and Alice Springs regions are being urged to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquitoes, with numbers expected to increase following extensive rain last week.
Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz explained that the heavy rainfall in Central Australia, associated with the monsoon activity in the north – west, has created favourable environmental conditions that may trigger an early start to the Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) season.
Historical data has shown, that rainfall over 100mm in Alice Springs and vector mosquito numbers >300 per trap/night indicate a high risk for MVE activity, with rainfall associated with north western monsoonal conditions assisting infected mosquitoes and waterbirds to migrate into Central Australia.
Elevated numbers of common banded mosquitoes can be expected within 5 kilometres of their breeding grounds, such as water filled depressions, seasonal lagoons and wetlands.
“To avoid mosquito borne disease use personal mosquito protection and avoid being outdoors in or close to wetland areas or places where mosquitoes are active, especially after sundown, said Ms Kurucz.
“Murray Valley encephalitis is a rare disease, but can potentially be fatal. The symptoms can include severe headache, high fever, drowsiness, tremor, seizures (especially in young children), and in some cases the disease progresses to delirium, coma, permanent brain damage or death.
To minimize the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes, people should:
- use a protective repellent containing 20 per cent DEET or Picaridin as a supplement to protective clothing when outdoors in mosquito prone areas
- wear light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers and socks, between dusk and dawn in areas where mosquito bites are likely
- avoid outdoor exposure around dusk and at night near areas of dense vegetation and other areas of high mosquito activity
- use mosquito-proof accommodation and camping facilities at night
- use mosquito coils, mosquito lanterns, and barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas near houses
- ensure children are adequately protected against mosquitoes