Buruli Ulcer: Mornington Peninsula Shire to consider new option
There’s another way to tackle the spread of the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer. But it will cost five times as much as a proposal to spray insecticide alongside 8,750 Mornington Peninsula properties. Here’s why.
South East
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A $1.5 million “labour intensive” strategy is being touted as an alternative to spraying parts of the Mornington Peninsula with insecticide under a program aimed at stopping a flesh-eating ulcer.
The costly strategy would involve going door to door in areas identified as Buruli Ulcer hot spots and inspecting backyards.
Teams would then decide what work was needed at each property with options ranging from emptying water from containers that were breeding sites for mosquitoes, to using larvicide to treat mosquito larvae and targeted spraying of pyrethroid insecticide using hand held equipment.
No work would be undertaken without consent from the land owner or occupier.
The mosquito control program currently on the table as part of a Melbourne University Doherty Institute-led trial involves spraying nature strips, trees and shrubs outside 8,750 properties at a cost of $300,000.
The alternative was raised yesterday by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor David Gill in Rye at a community meeting organised by the Greens to give people a chance to share their concerns about the spray plan and find out more about the Beating Buruli Project.
The Rye Civic Hall was full well before the 2pm meeting began with up to 350 people crammed into the venue.
Some, like Christine Nelthorpe, left after failing to squeeze into a space designed to seat 200.
“I saw about 50 people leave like I did and I heard at least another 50 couldn’t get in.
“I was told that a lot of those that left had come from Melbourne. They must have holiday houses on the Peninsula.”
The two-hour meeting featured a panel including Doherty Institute’s Professor Tim Stinear who is leading the project, deputy director of Austin Health Infectious Diseases Department Paul Johnson, Flinders federal Liberal MP Greg Hunt, Nepean state Labor MP Chris Brayne, Mornington Peninsula Mayor David Gill and chief executive John Baker, Simon Mulvany from Save the Bees Australia and Southern Peninsula indigenous Flora and Fauna Association Gidja Walker.
Professor Stinear said the alternative proposal may not achieve the same results as the original strategy.
“The alternative is known as source reduction. It is used in Far North Queensland to tackle dengue,” Prof Stinear said.
“The difference is that it is already well established that mosquitoes transmit dengue.
“What we are trying to do on the Mornington Peninsula is determine if mosquitoes are vectors for the Buruli Ulcer.
“A source reduction program might not be as effective in answering that question.”
Mayor David Gill apologised for failing to be “completely across” the Beating Buruli project, particularly the spraying proposal.
“I apologise personally and on behalf of my fellow councillors for that,” he said.
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“What’s important now is to stop the Buruli Ulcer and protect the Mornington Peninsula.”
The alternative proposal will be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
The council will consider a motion from Cr Simon Brooks to undertakes a comprehensive community consultation on the use of spraying.
Cr Brooks has also proposed the council ask Mr Hunt to contribute any extra money needed if councillors decide to pursue the alternative option.
The Federal Government has already provided $1.5 million for the Beating Buruli project and a further $2.4 million in research funding for the disease.
Speaking at yesterday’s community meeting Mr Hunt said if more cash was needed it should be sought from the National Health and Medical Research Council.