Ingham latest mozzie target
ABOUT 750,000 mosquito eggs could be released in Ingham to try to wipe out dengue fever.
The eggs will contain wolbachia carrying mosquitoes.
Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacteria and is introduced into aedes aegypti mosquitoes. It reduces their ability to transmit dengue, zika and chikungunya.
The program, run by Monash University’s World Mosquito Program, was introduced to Townsville in 2014.
Research showed there was no locally transmitted dengue cases in the last four rainy seasons in Townsville.
After its success, there are plans to expand it to other areas.
A draft plan from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service provided to Hinchinbrook Shire Council reveals details of the Ingham Wolbachia Release plan.
“The project will require up to 500 release points situated on up to 500 residential properties,” it said.
“Considering the relatively small population of the Ingham township ( approximately 4400 permanent residents), the project will reach into the homes of a significant percentage of the population.
“It is therefore imperative that our message be both communicated effectively whilst also reaching sufficient numbers of residents to facilitate a successful release.”
Although the plan is not formalised, the draft said the release was likely to be from January- April next year.
At its latest meeting last month, the council indicated it was supportive of the program.
Townsville Public Health Unit director Dr Steven Donohue said the Townsville Hospital and Health Service was working with Monash University and the World Mosquito Program to begin wolbachia coverage in Ingham.
“An agreement between the parties is still being finalised and we’ll have more to say to the community once this process is complete,” he said.
“Ingham has been ident- ified as having a large enough residential population and sufficient aedes aegypti numbers to sustain a local outbreak.
“Currently the town is protected by surrounding towns that have wolbachia mosquitoes but ideally the gap should be filled in.”
Dr Donohue said the wolbachia mosquitoes had been successfully introduced in Townsville and Cairns, leading to a significant reduction in the frequency and size of local outbreaks.
“The majority of dengue cases we have seen over the past couple of years has been a result of people bringing the virus in from overseas – these are called imported cases,” he said.
“The concern with dengue and zika is when we get local outbreaks. This is when someone returns with the virus from overseas, is bitten by a mosquito that can carry the disease and then transmits it to another person – this is known as local transmission and triggers a ‘ local outbreak’.”
Dr Donohue said there had not been a local outbreak of dengue in Townsville this year despite eight imported cases of dengue.
“This means while people are returning with the illness it is not being transmitted locally,” he said.