Doug has been a mosquito officer for Shepparton Council for more than two decades and he says it's always a bit of a laugh when people ask him what he does.ĭoug Cousins, Mosquito Officer: And they’re like what you, you trap mosquitoes. Reporter: About 20 councils are involved in setting around 70 mosquito traps across the state each week. If we know that it's present in mosquitoes or present in other animals, that gives us an insight into what to expect among humans. Reporter: To try to protect us and warn us of any potential risk mosquito surveillance takes place across the state.ĭeb Friedman: Surveillance is our best preventative measure. The trouble is the two most common species found during the height of summer in Victoria are disease spreaders.Ī/Prof Deb Friedman, Victoria's Deputy Chief Health Officer: We're most concerned about those infections that can be fatal or that can cause lifelong disability, and so those infections that can cause encephalitis. They allow for the control of emerging and potential vector-borne disease risks.Ĭatherine Ellis, reporter: There are more than 3500 species of mosquitoes in the world and more than 300 in Australia, but most don't bite humans and only a small number are dangerous because they can spread disease. ![]() The new regulations will help reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases by broadening the scope of the existing regulations. On 14 December 2019, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (the regulations) replaced the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009. Changes to the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations Activities generally include trapping adult mosquitoes and vector control. It is up to each council to determine the mosquito management measures best suited to their needs, but the focus is on reducing the risk of spread of mosquito-borne diseases, including Ross River virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. The Victorian Government provides funding to councils in areas at high-risk for mosquito-borne diseases to undertake mosquito surveillance and support mosquito management. This applies to land owned/managed by both the public sector or government, or private residents, businesses and organisations.įor further information on the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Health, local councils and public sector and private landowners and land occupiers, see Mosquito management in Victoria External Link. ![]() Mosquito management is the responsibility of all landowners or land occupiers. In Victoria, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) outline responsibilities for mosquito management. Roles and responsibilities for mosquito control Integrated mosquito management also includes mosquito control, investigation of mosquito-borne diseases in humans, and community education to reduce mosquito bites.įor more information visit Mosquito management in Victoria External Link. This includes surveillance activities to monitor mosquito species and numbers and to test mosquitoes for viruses. Since 1974, the Victorian Government has worked with other agencies including selected local governments to deliver an integrated mosquito management program.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |