The weather is warming up and while that means longer days and more beach time, it also means mosquito season is upon us.
In Western Australia, mosquitoes can transmit Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Kunjin virus, as well as the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis viruses (JEV).
Whilst there is a vaccine for JEV, there is no vaccine or cure for any of the other mosquito-borne disease acquired in WA.
This means, the most effective way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. You can do this by following a few simple steps:
Cover up – wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, covering as much of the body as you can.
Repel – apply an effective insect repellent containing DEET (diethyltoluamide), picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE, also known as PMD) evenly to exposed skin.
Clean Up – remove, empty or cover water-holding containers. Keep your grass short to stop mosquitoes hanging around your home.
Seventy-five per cent of people are bitten around their own home so it’s important to follow these steps wherever you are this summer.
For more information, including how to protect your baby or toddler from bites or how to stop mosquitos from breeding around your home, head to the Department of Health website for a number of handy resources.
