Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, but some can also spread serious diseases when they bite.
Mosquito-borne diseases spread in South Australia include Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus, among others.
Council is actively involved in mosquito management to help protect the community and visitors from mosquito-borne diseases. Surprisingly not all mosquitoes carry diseases such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis, but those that do can be fatal. For this reason, Council has a robust Mosquito Management Program in place each season that undertakes regular monitoring and control at known mosquito breeding sites in the area.
Shallow pools of water make great breeding habitat for mosquitoes, and after wet conditions and warm weather, conditions can be favourable for an increase in mosquito numbers. The raising of River Murray levels can also contribute to creating mosquito breeding habitats when disconnected pools of water become stagnant. The good news is often the environment will control mosquito larvae numbers as larvae make a great food source for fish, frogs and water birds. There is a delicate balance between the management of mosquitoes and protection of community health. It is not possible to eliminate all mosquitoes as often they play an important role in the natural environment.
Council is strongly supported by SA Health in regard to mosquito management to ensure public health protection is maintained. The community can also play a part by undertaking the following:
- cover up when outdoors with long, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing
- apply insect repellents
- eliminate water around the home
An important step to protecting yourself and your family is to avoid being bitten.
Mosquito breeding in the backyard is more common than you may think. Rain water tanks, pot plant saucers, septic tanks and ponds can make perfect spots for mosquito breeding. Backyards should be checked regularly for mosquito breeding, particularly after rain with warm weather.
More information on measures that you can take to protect yourself can be found at SA Health’s Fight the Bite campaign.
More information on mosquito control on private land after floods and storms can be found at SA Health’s flood recovery website.
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)
Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). It is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. JEV was detected in South Australia in February 2022.
For information on the signs and symptoms of JEV visit the SA Health website click here
Free JEV vaccination is available for eligible people. To find out if you are eligible for the free vaccine visit the SA Health website click here