The Department of Health released a media statement today, warning holiday makers, visitors and residents alike of the threat of Ross River Virus in the south west, saying that it’s been found at new sites this year. Medical Entomologist Sue Harrington said the Department’s mosquito and virus surveillance program (undertaken by The University of Western Australia) had detected Ross River Virus for the first time this season at mosquito monitoring sites in the Leschenault region.
Ms Harrington said repeated high tides and rainfall had resulted in the breeding of saltmarsh mosquitoes, which were efficient carriers of RRV. Mosquito management being undertaken by the local governments in collaboration with the Department of Health has been underway since September to reduce mosquito numbers and the risk of RRV and Barmah Forest virus (BFV). Read the full media release
I was doing a flora survey in Leschenault yesterday and while I don’t know if they were carriers of the virus or not, I can attest to the size of the mozzies out there – they were monsters! They were thick as thieves and no amount of repellent would keep them at bay. A very different welcome to spring…
And here’s something I found on howstuffworks.com – the body parts of a mozzie. I especially like the little pool of blood…
