Health authorities have warned people mosquito numbers have started increasing and are about to get a lot worse as a near-record number of larvae hatch in breeding areas in NT coastal regions, including the Greater Darwin Area.

This follows a combination of recent high tides and rain, which created ideal breeding conditions for the salt-marsh, or Aedes vigilax mosquito.

The explosion in numbers will occur despite a massive mosquito spraying operation by the Department of Health. 

Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz, said extensive sampling work and monitoring results from traps around Darwin indicate the likelihood of a near-record number of salt-marsh mosquitoes being on the wing for about the next two weeks.

“Our mozzie traps are already producing elevated numbers of adult mosquitoes,” Ms Kurucz said.

“But we expect those numbers to get a lot worse during the week.”

Even an extensive aerial and ground-based spraying operation could not prevent a spike in mosquito numbers.  Between Wednesday and Friday last week almost 300ha of swamps and other breeding areas were sprayed. Last week’s control operation was in addition to earlier spraying of about 340ha of mosquito breeding places.

“After the Aedes vigilax mosquito lays its eggs there is only a narrow window of about three days to effectively spray the larvae in the breeding areas. Darwin is surrounded by swamps and it is physically impossible to cover them all in the time we have available to act against the larvae.

“The salt-marsh mosquito can travel distances of up to 50km.  So we are about see an explosion in over the next 10 days as mozzies move in from breeding areas outside of Darwin.

“However, mosquito numbers would have been even greater had we not conducted what has been one of our biggest ever control operations,” Ms Kurucz said.

“People now need to start taking precautions to avoid being bitten,” she said.

Salt-marsh mosquitoes carry the viruses for the debilitating Ross River and Barmah Forest disease.

        To avoid being bitten Top Enders are advised to:

• avoid locations near coastal swamps and mangrove areas
• use mosquito-proof accommodation and camping facilities at night
• wear light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers and socks between dusk and dawn in areas where mosquito bites are likely
• use a protective repellent containing 20 per cent DEET or Picaridin as a supplement to protective clothing, with creams providing best protection
• use mosquito coils, mosquito lanterns, and barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas near houses
• ensure children and animals are adequately protected against mosquito bites.

 A salt marsh mosquito pest calendar is available on the DoH website.

Media Contact: Fred McCue 0401 119 792