❓ Hon Stephen Dawson raises concerns about increased mosquito numbers in Port Hedland and their potential impact on public health. The parliamentary secretary responds, providing data on mosquito-borne illnesses and outlining government funding for mosquito control and research in the Pilbara region.
AnsweredQoN 591Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MOSQUITOS —
PORT HEDLAND
591. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the rise in mosquito
numbers over the past few months in the Town of Port Hedland brought on by
recent rains.
(1) Is the
minister aware of an increase in the reported numbers of mosquito-borne
illnesses in the Town of Port Hedland over the past few months; and, if so, how
many have been reported for each month since January 2013 and how many were
reported in 2012?
(2) What are the
government's plans to improve and resource mosquito control and
research in the Pilbara region?
(3) Is any
funding allocated to the mosquito control program in the Pilbara region for
2013–14?
(4) What was spent in the 2010–11
and 2011–12 financial years?
(5) What
additional allocation has been made by the government for research into
mosquito controls into the future?
PORT HEDLAND
591. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the rise in mosquito
numbers over the past few months in the Town of Port Hedland brought on by
recent rains.
(1) Is the
minister aware of an increase in the reported numbers of mosquito-borne
illnesses in the Town of Port Hedland over the past few months; and, if so, how
many have been reported for each month since January 2013 and how many were
reported in 2012?
(2) What are the
government's plans to improve and resource mosquito control and
research in the Pilbara region?
(3) Is any
funding allocated to the mosquito control program in the Pilbara region for
2013–14?
(4) What was spent in the 2010–11
and 2011–12 financial years?
(5) What
additional allocation has been made by the government for research into
mosquito controls into the future?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) No, the
minister is not aware of an increase in cases of mosquito-borne disease to date
in 2013. There have been only two cases of Ross River virus, known as RRV,
disease from Port Hedland—one in February and one in April—so
far in 2013. This compares with 20 cases of RRV reported in Port Hedland in
2012. Furthermore, no cases of Murray Valley encephalitis or Kunjin virus
disease have been reported in either 2012 or 2013.
(2) Since 1990
the Department of Health has provided funding assistance and training for
mosquito management to local governments in WA, including in the Pilbara,
through the Contiguous Local Authorities Group—CLAG—funding
scheme. This year the Department of Health has allocated an additional $1 million
a year for the next four years. Of this, $800 000 a year will be allocated
across WA on a needs basis to additional mosquito control measures and capacity
building for local governments, and $200 000 a year will be allocated to grants
for research into mosquito management.
(3) Yes, $7 381.39
has been approved through the CLAG funding scheme for 2013–14.
(4) In 2010–11,
$2 610.98; and in 2011–12, $7 099.94.
(5) See
response to (2).
question.
(1) No, the
minister is not aware of an increase in cases of mosquito-borne disease to date
in 2013. There have been only two cases of Ross River virus, known as RRV,
disease from Port Hedland—one in February and one in April—so
far in 2013. This compares with 20 cases of RRV reported in Port Hedland in
2012. Furthermore, no cases of Murray Valley encephalitis or Kunjin virus
disease have been reported in either 2012 or 2013.
(2) Since 1990
the Department of Health has provided funding assistance and training for
mosquito management to local governments in WA, including in the Pilbara,
through the Contiguous Local Authorities Group—CLAG—funding
scheme. This year the Department of Health has allocated an additional $1 million
a year for the next four years. Of this, $800 000 a year will be allocated
across WA on a needs basis to additional mosquito control measures and capacity
building for local governments, and $200 000 a year will be allocated to grants
for research into mosquito management.
(3) Yes, $7 381.39
has been approved through the CLAG funding scheme for 2013–14.
(4) In 2010–11,
$2 610.98; and in 2011–12, $7 099.94.
(5) See
response to (2).
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