Mosquitos
Mosquitos can be a nuisance, especially at dawn and dusk. Sometimes they transmit diseases.
For more than 15 years an Arbovirus and Mosquito Monitoring Program has been developed and carried out by NSW Health (Westmead Hospital) in conjunction with NSW Councils including Leeton Shire Council. The program helps identify Arbovirus activity through routine sampling.
Arboviruses (Arthropod-borne viruses) are those that are transmitted to humans from mosquitoes, examples of these include Ross River, Murray Valley Encephalitis and Japanese Encephalitis. The main objectives of the program are to monitor mosquito vector populations in NSW at risk of Arbovirus activity; identify the major pest and vector species for each locality and monitor population fluctuations of the important species (especially Culex annulirostris for inland areas such as Leeton).
Meeting these objectives ultimately means Council can provide early warning to its community about possible virus outbreaks as well as provide a better understanding of arboviruses, vectors and environmental conditions.
The program involves two types of testing, one being the setting of traps aimed at collecting mosquitoes and the other is the blood sampling chicken flocks. Council takes part in both of these methods of testing.
To find out more about the program please contact Council’s Planning, Building and Health Department on 02 6953 0911.
It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry, so be sure to cover up with loose fitting shirts and long pants when outside during the warmer months and apply repellent to exposed skin. Where possible screen windows and doors and remove standing water close to the house.
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