With the weather warming up and summer approaching, mosquitos are on the hunt. But in Logan, the hunter is being hunted.
Council's pest control program is culling the notorious pest across 125 hectares of salt marsh in Loganholme and Carbrook and 601 fresh water sites that are capable of producing large numbers of disease-carrying mosquitos.
The program adopts a three-pronged attack on local mosquito populations:
• Aerial treatment - using helicopters to treat salt marsh areas;
• Ground treatment - quad bikes, 4WD vehicles to apply larvicides (Larvicides used are
registered for mosquito control and are very environmentally & non-target friendly); and
• Light traps to monitor adult mosquito populations.
Larvicides used are registered for mosquito control and are environmentally and non-target friendly.
Logan City Council's mosquito control program has inherited 106 known freshwater breeding sites since the local government reform in March, 2008. Two pest management technicians monitor and treat the whole city. Residents are encouraged to contact Council if they know of potential breeding sites that should be investigated.
Animals and City Standards Committee Chairman, Councillor Graham Able (Division 5) said the mosquito control program played a key role in ensuring the health and safety of Logan residents.
"Mosquitos are estimated to transmit disease to more than 700 million people annually around the world and millions of those cases result in deaths," he said.
"Council is spending $350,000 on its mosquito control program to help our residents avoid ending up on the wrong end of those alarming statistics."
In South East Queensland, mosquitos carry diseases like Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and dog heart worm disease. However the return of Dengue poses a very real concern for health authorities.
Cr Able said Logan residents could take proactive steps around their homes to prevent the spread of mosquitos.
"Empty all containers holding water, and mozzie-proof your pot plant dishes by filling them up with sand," he said.
Other mosquito prevention tips:
• If you're outdoors during times of high mosquito activity, take suitable measures to reduce mosquito bites and use one of many repellents available from supermarkets or pharmacies;
• Install mosquito screens on doors and windows and make use of ceiling fans, mosquito coils and air conditioning; and
• Ensure your water tank is well maintained and unable to be penetrated by mosquitos by checking for tears in gauze, keeping lids on and repairing holes and cracks.