Protect yourself from Mosquitos this summer

Victoria has had a wetter spring than in previous years. This wet and warm weather can bring on additional mosquito breeding areas, usually out of sight and mind. More mosquito biting means we are at greater risk of contracting a mosquito-borne disease that can make us sick. 

Some mosquito-borne diseases of concern include:

•  Ross River Virus
•  Barmah Forest Virus,
•  Buruli Ulcer, 
•  Japanese Encephalitis and
•  Murray Valley Encephalitis (both of which are rare).

Follow this simple checklist to stop mosquitoes from breeding on your property and getting inside your home.

Check and maintain rainwater tanks and water storage vessels

• Water tanks must be completely sealed. Check lids, covers and inlet pipes for any gaps.
• Fit removable screen mesh to the outlet end of overflow pipes and all inlets.
• Make sure any water collection containers have secure lids or screens.
• Keeping-your-rainwater-tank-safe-from-mosquitos.pdf (health.vic.gov.au)

Maintain fly screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home

• Maintain fly screens on windows, doors, vents and chimneys. (Screens should be no coarser than 12 x 12 meshes per 25mm, or 1.2mm. Use an even coarser mesh if you wish to keep out other smaller biting insects, like sandflies.)

Use insect sprays and repellents around the home.

Insect sprays and repellents can kill mosquitoes inside and outside the house. It is essential to use these products according to the directions on the bottle.

• Use ‘knockdown’ fly spray against visible mosquitoes in your home.
• Use plug-in mosquito “zappers” or vaporisers in enclosed verandahs. These should be switched off as soon as the area is no longer in use. Consider using insect repellent at the same time.
• Use mosquito coils in outdoor areas. These should be supervised at all times. Consider using insect repellent at the same time.
• Target areas like spraying the shaded shrubbery near your home. Avoid spraying these products near fishponds. Remember to read instructions about the safe use of any insect sprays.
• If mosquitoes are particularly bad, consider using a long-acting surface spray in areas where mosquitoes like to rest.

Limited mosquitoes from breeding in your yard and garden

You are first in line to be bitten by mosquitoes that breed in your yard and garden! Mosquitoes can breed even in the tiniest amounts of water. Remove stagnant water so mosquitoes can’t breed\.

• Clean up your yard and remove anything where water can collect, such as unused pots and tyres.
• Cover or overturn trailers, wheelbarrows, boats, tools and children’s playground toys to avoid water collection.
• Regularly clean gutters and drains so water runs freely.
• Mend leaking taps.
• Change pet drinking bowls, bird baths and vase waters at least once a week and more regularly in warm weather.
• Put sand around the base of the pot plants.
• Keep swimming pools well maintained or empty or securely covered if not in use.
• Keep fishponds tidy with minimal vegetation around the edges.
• Keep lawns and gardens trimmed back to reduce the areas where mosquitoes rest.

For further information on mosquitos and recent health advisories, please click here.