Published on Monday, 20 April 2026 at 8:34AM
As part of routine monitoring, the Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) virus has been detected in sentinel chickens located near the caravan park/pony club area. Sentinel chickens are used across Western Australia as an early warning system to help protect communities.
This area, extending towards Kings Lake, is a known mosquito breeding site near natural waterways. Recent mosquito monitoring has shown an increase in mosquito activity in this specific area. Access issues at some breeding locations have now been resolved, and targeted mosquito control works (larviciding) will be undertaken, including long‑lasting residual treatments.
⚠️What this means for the community
–The highest risk areas are bushland and waterways, including around the caravan park/pony club and Kings Lake.
– Mosquito activity within town remains low, with recent monitoring in central Tom Price recording little to no activity. A small number of mosquitoes were detected in Area W, and this site will be further checked as a precaution.
– The detection does not mean illness is present in the community, but is an early warning so preventative action can be taken.
⚠️Protecting yourself
Residents are encouraged to take simple precautions, particularly when spending time outdoors:
– Use insect repellent (DEET‑based recommended)
– Wear long sleeves and light‑coloured clothing
– Avoid high‑risk mosquito areas near water where possible
Free insect repellent is available from Shire office front desks.
⚠️Mosquito control
Routine fortnightly mosquito control and monitoring continues across townsites and remains effective. Fogging (adult mosquito control) is not currently planned and is only used in specific circumstances where both mosquito numbers and disease risk are high.
The Shire continues to work closely with the Department of Health and follows their advice.
If you are experiencing higher than usual mosquito activity around your home, please report it to the Shire so potential breeding areas can be investigated.
For more information:
📧 [email protected]
ℹ️ Fight the Bite advice: https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Fight-the-Bite-campaign
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