Shire to carry out mosquito fogging in Broome

Mosquito fogging is scheduled to take place around Broome tomorrow evening to combat a population increase brought on by above-average rainfall.

A Shire of Broome spokesman said environmental health officers have been monitoring mosquito numbers and they were now at a level where fogging was considered appropriate as part of a wider management strategy.

The spokesman said fogging would be carried out this Friday, with the fogging machine to be towed along selected streets in Old Broome, Cable Beach, Roebuck and Broome North estates running in a north-south direction to maximise coverage and effectiveness in killing adult mosquitoes.

The spokesman said the chemical used in the process was approved by the WA Health Department but could potentially cause some irritation and therefore people were advised to remain inside if fogging occurs nearby.

Shire of Broome manager of health, emergency and rangers Ty Matson said fogging was only one tool in managing mosquitoes and the community needed to be actively involved.

“Environmental health officers have been busy in recent months working to minimise mosquitoes, including monitoring areas of standing water to find out where they are breeding, and then applying larvicide to prevent them growing to adulthood,” he said.

“Trapping adult mosquitoes allows us to monitor the identity and density of the population, and the Shire also maintains a sentinel chicken program with the WA Department of Health to detect the presence of mosquito-borne viruses.

“We also strongly encourage the community to take measures to prevent themselves being bitten, and to prevent mosquitoes breeding in the environment.”

Basic precautions to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes include reducing outdoor activities during high mosquito activity periods (dawn and dusk), covering up by wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long pants that are loose fitting, applying personal insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin and ensuring fly screen doors and windows are fitted and maintained.

Other steps that can be taken to stop mosquito breeding include emptying any standing water from containers, old tyres and drums, keeping ornamental ponds stocked with mosquito-eating fish, keeping swimming pools well chlorinated and filtered, filling or draining depressions in the ground that hold water and screening rainwater tanks with insect-proof mesh.

For more information visit www.broome.wa.gov.au.