An overwhelming positive response to a house to house mosquito survey in Gin Gin has been applauded by Bundaberg Regional Council.
Council officers were joined by Queensland Health officers over the past few weeks inspecting 584 properties in the town area looking for Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites.
The programme follows the discovery of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes in the Gin Gin district last year during a routine regional survey.
It was the first time the mosquito, which is capable of transmitting Dengue Fever, has been discovered in the Gin Gin area and it is unknown how the mosquito was introduced to the district.
The survey again located Aedes Aegypti mosquito larvae at several properties in Gin Gin.
However according to Council’s Health and Environmental Services spokesperson Cr. Mary Wilkinson the larvae were found in different locations.
“This means those residents at properties where the larvae was located last year, have heeded advice and taken steps to eliminate potential breeding sites and I congratulate them for this” Cr. Wilkinson said.
“Council will now formally contact the residents of the new identified sites and begin an official eradication programme” Cr. Wilkinson said.
Cr. Wilkinson commended residents and business owners in Gin Gin for their positive response and co-operation during the first weeks of the survey.
“They have worked extremely well with Council and Queensland Health officers which helps to achieve positive outcomes and has already led to a reduction in the number of mosquitoes in the region” she said.
Cr. Wilkinson said everyone in the Gin Gin area need to remain vigilant and continue to take simple, precautionary steps to eradicate potential mosquito breeding sites.
“This includes emptying all containers which can hold water and provide an ideal breeding site for mosquitoes” she said.
Cr. Wilkinson said even if it doesn’t rain, watering the garden and lawn can provide enough moisture for mosquitoes to breed in pot plant bases and similar containers as well as play equipment, buckets and rubbish items.
“Residents with rain water tanks also need to ensure both the inlet and outlet are screened adequately to prevent mosquitoes from breeding” she added.
