Don’t become a meal for mosquitoes
How to beat the bite and itchiness this summer in North
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 day] quickly,” Anderson said.
“Northland [Ō pua] 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, Ō 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 successfully eradicating Australian mosquitoes, which were established here a number of years ago, Anderson said.
“Mosquito-borne diseases are
Northland has a hot and humid climate, which
makes it ideal for mosquitoes to breed and advance through their
life cycle [5-7 days] quicklyNorthland has a hot and humid climate, which makes it ideal for mosquitoes to breed and advance through their life cycle [5-7 days]
quickly
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 one at the picnic getting 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, phone either the on-call health protection officer on 09 430 4100 or Debe Anderson on 021 221 4019.