Salt marsh mozzies alert for Carnarvon

Carnarvon Shire has warned residents to prepare for an influx of mosquitoes over the next few weeks of “big, strong and aggressive” salt marsh mosquitoes.

In the warning the Shire said a 2m spring tide on April 11 resulted in the largest amount of salt marsh mosquitoes hatching in the last four years.

“These mosquitoes are also the most likely suspect for spreading Ross River Virus,” the Shire warned on its website and social media.

The Shire conducted aerial surveys after the spring tide and found five hectares of significant larval activity in samphire and mangrove tidal pools in the One Tree Point area.

“This was likely to result in Carnarvon being bombarded by mosquitoes over the next few weeks,” the Shire said.

Carnarvon Shire conducted an aerial larvicide treatment of the area, but warned an increase of mosquitoes over the following weeks was likely to occur.

According to the Shire’s website, another aerial survey was scheduled for today after a predicted 1.84m tide on Sunday.

The Shire has urged residents to take action to protect themselves from the salt marsh mosquitoes and the common brown house mosquitoes, which may carry diseases.

Some ways to reduce the risks posed by mosquitoes is to eliminate breeding areas around the house such as stagnant water, using screens on windows to maintain good airflow while keeping insects outside, and wearing loose fitting clothing and insect repellent when outdoors at dawn, dusk and night during the breeding season.