November 30 2011
The Department of Health is seeking the Tennant Creek community's assistance in eliminating an infestation of the potentially dengue fever carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti recently detected in the town.
An initial control effort by the medical entomology team will include a property by property program on both public and private land to treat all water holding receptacles with a residual pyrethrum-like insecticide that kills wrigglers and prevents adult reinfestation.
"The team will also conduct an extensive survey to establish the full extent of the infestation," NT senior medical entomologist Peter Whelan said today.
"It is possible that the elimination of this mosquito will require an intensive and ongoing program for up to two years.
"The Department is seeking the cooperation of residents to help stop the spread of mosquitoes by emptying and cleaning all water containers, and taking other preventive measures (see below)."
Mr Whelan stressed that there is no present dengue transmission in Tennant Creek or in any other part of the NT as there is no one identified in Tennant Creek with dengue fever who would introduce the virus.
"The current risk of dengue transmission in Tennant Creek is extremely remote. It would require someone with dengue fever coming here from, for instance overseas and being bitten by one of these mosquitoes. This infected mosquito would have to live to bite another person to transmit the dengue virus.
"We are putting every effort into eliminating the mosquito to avoid that possibility. Initial detection of the presence of mosquitoes that could carry the disease was in a special egg trap and a preliminary follow up survey on 24-25 November.
"We identified Aedes aegypti adults and larvae in a wide area that includes at least the northern and central half of the town."
The dengue mosquito breeds in all types of water-holding receptacles, including old tyres, pot plant bases, plastic sheeting, disused tanks or ponds, unsealed rain water tanks - anything that can hold rain or sprinkler water.
This is the first establishment of this mosquito in the NT since the importations that were eliminated from Tennant Creek in 2006 and from Groote Eylandt in 2008.
"It is significant because this species is a recognised vector of the dengue virus and is the main vector involved in the almost annual transmission of dengue disease that occurs in Queensland," Mr Whelan explained.
"It is extremely important that this mosquito species does not become permanently established in Tennant Creek or other places in the NT. "
Residents are asked to assist in stopping the spread immediately by:
- emptying out water from all potential breeding sites (water receptacle, refuse etc) in backyards or inside.
- cleaning up your backyard breeding or inside house sites and spray household residual insecticide in any mosquito breeding receptacle.
- turning over all water holding receptacles and leaving them outside for treatment by the control teams.
- advising the control teams of all receptacles that have held water or wrigglers.
- not transporting any previously water filled receptacles from Tennant Creek to other NT centres.
- wiping out all emptied receptacles with wrigglers with an undiluted solution of household bleach to kill any eggs present.
- treating all vehicles inside the cabin or protected carrying sections with an aerosol knock down spray each morning before moving the vehicle in Tennant Creek or from Tennant Creek to another town or location.
- reporting any infestations of wrigglers in receptacles that can't be emptied or day biting mosquitoes to the toll free during business hours hotline (1-800-008-002).
- assisting the elimination teams by allowing access to your yard when they visit to check receptacles or leave mosquito traps in yards.
- leaving a contact number in your letter box or on the hot line and advising of suitable times for inspections over the initial control period from now until Christmas.
Media Contact: Bridget Wild 899 92818 or 0401 116 203
