Top End residents are being urged to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquitoes, with numbers expected to increase from Sunday, following heavy rainfall last week.  

NT Health’s Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz explained that the Wet Season is the high risk period for Ross River virus (RRV).  

“During the Wet Season mosquitoes live long enough to pick up the virus and transmit it to humans,” she said.

“Elevated numbers of salt marsh mosquitoes and also common banded mosquitoes can be expected within 5 kilometres of their breeding grounds, including salt marsh areas, upper mangrove areas and seasonal wetlands.

“To avoid mosquito borne disease use personal mosquito protection and avoid being outdoors in wetland areas or places where mosquitoes are active, especially after sundown,”

As well as mosquitoes that breed in marshes, mosquitoes that breed in water-filled containers also pose a disease risk.

“Rain filled containers, including buckets, plant drip trays and tyres are prime mosquito breeding grounds and need to be tipped out and stored under cover,” Ms Kurucz said.

“Unused swimming pools can also be productive breeding grounds, and roof gutters need to be cleaned of debris to ensure they are free draining. Rainwater tanks should be inspected to ensure they are sealed against mosquito entry.”  

People infected with RRV may develop a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, including painful or swollen joints, particularly in the hands, ankles and knees.

“Sore muscles, aching tendons, skin rash, fatigue, fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes are other signs of the illness. Symptoms can last for a few weeks, although some people experience symptoms for up to a year,” Ms Kurucz said.

People are advised to:

• use a protective repellent containing 20 per cent DEET or Picaridin as a supplement to protective clothing when outdoors in mosquito prone areas
• wear light coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers and socks, between dusk and dawn in areas where mosquito bites are likely
• inspect the outdoors of their residences and businesses for water in receptacles and drain or cover them
• avoid outdoor exposure around dusk and at night near areas of dense vegetation and other areas of high mosquito activity
• use mosquito-proof accommodation and camping facilities at night
• use mosquito coils, mosquito lanterns, and barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas near houses
• ensure children are adequately protected against mosquitoes

Media Contact: Bridget Wild 89 992 818 or 0401 116 203