Don’t be a meal for mosquitoes
How to beat the bite this summer in Northland
Public health officials are calling on Northlanders to take some easy steps to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their backyards this summer. Health New Zealand health protection technical officer Debe Anderson said now is the perfect time to remind people how to avoid mosquitoes, as summer is around the corner.
“Northland has a hot and humid climate, which makes it ideal for mosquitoes to breed and advance through their life cycle [5-7 days] quickly,” Anderson said.
“Northland [Ōpua] is also the first port of call for many overseas yachts coming into New Zealand.
“We also have the log port and the oil refinery, which brings large foreign ships and tankers.”
Throughout the year, the National Public Health Service in Te Tai Tokerau undertakes a mosquito surveillance programme covering all of Northland. Larval and adult mosquito traps — set up at strategic entry points into the region by land and sea — are monitored, specifically in places like Marsden Cove Marina, Marsden Point Refinery, Northport, pua Marina and Whangārei Harbour.
Anderson said prevention is much better than cures when it came to mosquitoes.
“Our climate is ideal for these mosquitoes to establish here if they are given the chance.”
Roughly 10 years were spent suc
● Use a repellent, preferably containing less than 35 per cent diethyltoluamide (DEET). Always read and follow the instructions. Apply repellent after sunscreen.
● ●
Use air conditioning or fans when indoors.
Insert screens on windows and doors.
● Stay away from areas where mosquitoes are most active or breeding, such as stagnant water.
●
Use zip-up screens on tents. cessfully eradicating Australian mosquitoes, which were established here a number of years ago, Anderson said.
“Mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent in Australia and the Pacific Islands — Dengue, Zika, Ross River virus, among others.”
A study released this year found some people really are “mosquito magnets”, and that it probably has to do with the way they smell.
Researchers discovered people who are most attractive to mosquitoes produce a lot of certain chemicals on their skin tied to smell.
“If you have high levels of this stuff on your skin, you’re going to be the
● Some pot plants such as bromeliads hold water in their leaves — empty the water out at least once a week. A turkey baster or pipette is a good tool for this.
one at the picnic gettingŌ all the bites,” said study author Leslie Vosshall, a neurobiologist at Rockefeller University in New York.
If you have problems with unusual mosquito biting activity, please contact either the on-call health protection officer on 09 430 4100, or Debe Anderson on 021 221 4019.