Mister to wage war on mozzies

A weapon of mass destruction has been added to the Shire of Broome’s arsenal used to destroy the disease-carrying mosquito.

Broome Shire health services manager Dimity Hargrave said the “ultra-light vapour mister” machine, worth $15,000, combined the best of old-fashioned ingenuity and new technology to more effectively kill mosquitoes.

Ms Hargrave said the older style “fogger” machines did kill mosquitoes, by spraying a chemical mixed with a carrier, often diesel, but the technology could not control the size of the droplet.

She said the Shire’s new unit was more environmentally friendly and effective, producing a fine mist of insecticide with uniform droplets just the right size to kill adult mosquitoes.

The Shire is now equipped to mist problem areas such as the outskirts of Broome, when rain results in water pooling in lowlying areas.

“Shire environmental health officers regularly monitor wet areas around town for the presence of mosquito larvae,” Ms Hargrave said.

“When they are found they are controlled, where possible, using larvicide which prevents them developing into adult mosquitoes but does not affect other natural aquatic lifecycles or water quality. Ms Hargrave said the mister would be most useful for the Shire when mosquito populations built up more than normal.

“Last year (late in the wet season) was quite unique in that Broome had a combination of wet weather events, including large rainfall and really large tides, resulting in naturally pooling water, and a significant emergence of mosquitoes,” Ms Hargrave said.

“In a situation like that, we now have another form of defence.”

The purchase of the unit was also a chance for the Shire to remind locals to defend themselves against the health risks of being bitten by mosquitoes.

“Protect yourself and your family from bites by wearing long, loose clothing, using repellents containing DEET, and avoid going outside at dawn and dusk,” Ms Hargrave said.