Published on Thursday, 27 February 2020 at 12:00:00 AM
Community members are urged to continue to take precautions to fight the bite and avoid potential mosquito breeding in our homes and workplaces.
Our Shire of Ashburton Environmental Health team has completed additional mosquito prevention and minimisation activities following recent heavy rainfall.
Many mosquitoes are at their biting best around dusk and dawn, but some will bite day and night.
Some tips to avoid being bitten are to wear long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing to cover exposed skin and to apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin evenly to all areas of exposed skin.
By cleaning out common breeding sites around your home, include pot plant drip trays, ponds, pet bowls, old tyres and rubbish that may collect water, can stop mosquitoes from breeding.
We are also experiencing an influx of March flies in our communities.
Whilst March flies are not known to transmit diseases Australia, their bite can cause serious allergic reactions in some people which may require hospitalisation.
A particular species found in our Pilbara region is known to produce serious symptoms in some people, including hives, fever, wheezing, and in severe cases.
Symptomatic treatment, including application of an ice pack and use of an antihistamine, may offer relief from painful bites. Scratching the bites can result in a secondary bacterial infection that may require the application of antiseptic cream or the use of antibiotics.
Patients with a severe allergic reaction should seek urgent medical assistance and advice.
The simplest way to prevent being bitten by a March fly is to cover up with appropriate clothing and/or apply an effective repellent product.
- March flies are known to be attracted to dark blue, so it is advisable to avoid wearing blue and other dark colours. Long, light-coloured, loose fitting clothing, including head nets, is likely to provide the most effective protection for humans when March flies are present.
- Lotion or gel repellents are the most effective in protecting yourself against March flies, but these will vary in their effectiveness depending on the species of March fly.
- The best protection for babies and young children is to dress them in protective clothing, socks and shoes, and use other forms of insect screening.
For more information visit ww2.health.wa.gov.au or contact the Shire’s Environmental Team on 08 9188 4444 or email [email protected].
For media information contact:
Alison Lennon - Manager Media and Communications, Shire of Ashburton
M: 0409 314 140 | E: [email protected]
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