How you can get rid of mozzies during the summer in Queensland

Townsville residents have been given a few simple hacks to clear out mosquitoes ahead of the wet season in Queensland.

Townsville City Council Vector Control Officer Stephen Mather inspecting one of the 1,500 properties during the annual attack on dengue mosquitos targeting potential breeding sites on properties in the inner city and North Ward. Dengue fever mosquito sites. Picture: Wesley Monts

Mosquito hunting season is set to start again with residents across the greater Townsville region urged to seek and destroy in their own backyard.

Townsville City Council has already started applying ground and aerial larvicide applications in order to limit the spread of the pests and the diseases they carry.

TCC’s Community Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability Committee chairman Muarie Soars said early intervention would be critical.

Townsville City Council coordinator vector control Scott Dunsdon near Belgian Gardens Cemetery. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Reducing breeding grounds for mosquitoes is one of the most effective ways to limit mosquitoes in Townsville. You can do your part by regularly flushing out stagnant water in containers, pet bowls, old tyres, bird baths and flowerpots,” Cr Soars said.

“Mosquitoes in Townsville can carry and transmit diseases like Ross River Fever, Barmah Forest Virus and Dengue Fever, all of which have serious health implications.

“Using personal protections like wearing insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved loose fitting clothing, avoiding the outdoors at dawn and dusk, and using mosquito coils around the house can also reduce your chance of being bitten and potentially contracting a mosquito-borne disease.”

A presentation from council’s vector control team on how they operate and their expectations of how the current rainfall would impact the mosquito population was noted at the most recent ordinary council meeting.

“The presentation from the vector control team covered information like how the team surveys public areas to determine hot spot areas, how significant rainfall events trigger mosquito treatments, and Council’s approach to mosquitoes in the case of a disaster,” Cr Soars said.

“There was also interesting information about controlling mosquitoes through the Wolbachia bacteria, which can help reduce transmission of Dengue Fever and Zika Virus when introduced to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The World Mosquito Program released Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in Townsville in 2011.”

A full brief of what should be done to prevent mosquitos from breeding and which spots can prove most troublesome is available on council’s website.

Originally published as How you can get rid of mozzies during the summer in Queensland