Mosquito management is an important community service with the purpose of protecting public health & preserving the lifestyle we enjoy here in the Peel region.
Environmental conditions, mosquito breeding cycles and mosquito-borne disease risks are complex, and continually changing. We know it is important to keep our community informed on mosquito management activities and how you can protect yourself, and your family from mosquitoes and mosquito borne disease.
Season 2023/24 underway
Mosquito surveillance and reduction treatments for season 2023/24 are well underway.
The City’s mosquito management team, in conjunction with Peel Mosquito Management Group (PMMG) members, have been undertaking mosquito breeding site inspections and aerial larvicide treatments throughout the winter months.
Weather conditions play a critical role in the timing of aerial larvicide treatments year-round. However, during the winter and early spring months, aligning the timing of a treatment with a window of suitable weather can be particularly tricky and sometimes unattainable. This is why our breeding site surveillance activities are a critical part of our mosquito management program.
If you are interested in how we manage mosquitoes, please watch this short video.
To date, the program has successfully completed four (4) aerial larviciding treatments:
- 22 July 145.2 hectares
- 11 August 96.0 hectares
- 31 August 157.6 hectares
- 7&8 September 259.4 hectares
While the mosquito management program is highly effective at reducing the abundance of mosquitoes, total elimination is not achievable nor environmentally desirable.
Mosquito Borne Disease
Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus are the two most common mosquito-borne diseases in the Peel Region. Mosquito and virus surveillance is undertaken by the WA Department of Health across the south-west of WA.
Recent surveillance results have detected Ross River virus in mosquitoes here in the Mandurah, Bunbury, and Busselton areas for the first time in two years.
The WA Department of Health issued a media statement reminding residents and visitors to remain vigilant against mosquito bites in the states south west. You may the full media statement for more information.
The City encourages you to be mosquito aware and protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites and mosquito borne disease. You can take measures to do this by:
- Avoiding outdoor exposure to biting mosquitoes, particularly at dawn and early evening.
- Wear protective (long, loose-fitting, light-coloured) clothing when outdoors.
- Apply an effective personal mosquito repellent containing diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), evenly to all areas of exposed skin and always follow the label instructions.
- Ensure insect screens are installed and in good condition on houses and caravans.
- Use mosquito coils and mosquito lanterns and apply barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas around houses.
- Ensure infants and children are adequately protected against mosquito bites, preferably with suitable clothing, shoes/socks, bed nets or other forms of insect screening.
- Keep grass/weeds and other vegetation short to stop mosquitoes seeking shelter and hiding around the home.
- Remove water holding containers from around the home and garden to ensure mosquitoes do not breed in your own backyard.
Outlook for 2023/2024
Following a rare triple La Niña event and three particularly challenging seasons for the management program, climate drivers have changed quite dramatically over recent months and resulted in the sudden swing into the development of an El Niño event. El Niño events have the opposite effect of La Niña on our climate. When they have occurred in the past our local environmental conditions have been far less favourable for mosquitoes to maintain their breeding cycles which can assist in managing mosquito populations.
For all the information on the City’s mosquito management program please visit:
https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/live/residents/health-and-safety/mosquito-management
or
https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/learn/environment/environmental-strategies-and-projects
