No plans to spray insects
Council tips to get mozzies to buzz off
DESPITE the state’s chief health officer’s visit to Toowoomba on Monday regarding the threat of the Japanese encephalitis virus, the Toowoomba Regional Council has confirmed it has no plans to begin spraying the insects.
“The recent rain and warmer temperatures have provided ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, but numbers do not warrant council taking wider control measures,” Councillor Tim McMahon said.
“Council is working with other local authorities to understand what control options could be available if the problem persists.”
Mr McMahon said residents could reduce mosquito breeding areas by emptying containers of water, including wading pools, buckets, birdbaths and ponds without fish.
He said attending to blocked drains, gutters, overgrown vegetation and ensuring there was gauze on rainwater tanks would also prevent being bitten.
“Personal protection also is important to reduce the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes,” he said.
“Mosquitoes not only inflict a nasty bite but can carry serious diseases including Ross River virus, Murray Valley encephalitis and Dengue fever. Mosquitoes can cause heartworm in dogs.”
Five cases of JEV were detected in humans in southern Queensland last summer, with one case proving fatal.
During his visit to Toowoomba on Monday, Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard encouraged people at high risk of exposure to be vaccinated against JEV, including people who lived or worked in the Balonne, Goondiwindi, South Burnett, North Burnett, Quilpie, Western Downs and Millmerran areas.
Anyone who lives or works near piggeries or for long periods during dusk and dawn, including farm workers, are also considered high risk.
While 99 per cent of the people with JEV have no or mild symptoms, severe cases may result in fevers, chills, headaches, disorientation, paralysis and death.
The virus can only spread to humans through the bite of a mosquito after it has bitten an infected pig or wading bird and it typically takes five days after a human is bitten for symptoms to appear.