❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about mosquito breeding in man-made wetlands and Ross River virus risk, particularly in the Vasse electorate. The Minister's response acknowledges the risks and outlines the Department of Health's surveillance and management efforts.
AnsweredQoN 3262Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What evidence exists to support the claim in
The West Australian
newspaper of 11 October 2004, by Health Department medical entomologist Dr Mike Lindsay, that ‘man-made wetlands’ could be significant for the breeding of mosquitoes?
(2) Is the Minister aware that, with the Vasse electorate being most severely affected by Ross River virus in the 2003-2004 year, there are few man-made wetlands in the electorate when compared with highly urbanised areas such as in most of Perth?
(3) Is the Minister aware that several species of native and exotic fish are recognised as consuming mosquitoes during their aquatic larval stage of development, such that well designed and managed artificial wetlands should carry only very low numbers of mosquitoes?
(4) Is the Minister aware that most south west mosquitoes breed in natural wetland areas and in winter-flooded farmland, with the result that towns like Busselton must rely on a combination of public education and larvicide controls applied to such breeding areas as the best way of reducing the risk of Ross River virus infections?
The West Australian
newspaper of 11 October 2004, by Health Department medical entomologist Dr Mike Lindsay, that ‘man-made wetlands’ could be significant for the breeding of mosquitoes?
(2) Is the Minister aware that, with the Vasse electorate being most severely affected by Ross River virus in the 2003-2004 year, there are few man-made wetlands in the electorate when compared with highly urbanised areas such as in most of Perth?
(3) Is the Minister aware that several species of native and exotic fish are recognised as consuming mosquitoes during their aquatic larval stage of development, such that well designed and managed artificial wetlands should carry only very low numbers of mosquitoes?
(4) Is the Minister aware that most south west mosquitoes breed in natural wetland areas and in winter-flooded farmland, with the result that towns like Busselton must rely on a combination of public education and larvicide controls applied to such breeding areas as the best way of reducing the risk of Ross River virus infections?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 November 2004
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
21 days
Locally, the Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Branch of the Department of Health (DOH) has demonstrated high levels of mosquito breeding in constructed wetlands in Perth which have not been designed or maintained adequately to minimise mosquito breeding. DOH is concerned that the increasing use of constructed wetlands in urban areas will exacerbate nuisance mosquito problems and the potential for urban outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease. (2) Yes. DOH is acutely aware that natural wetlands are important breeding sites for mosquitoes in the Vasse region. The DOH-funded Ross River virus surveillance program was responsible for defining those mosquito species that transmit Ross River virus and their breeding sites. For this reason, DOH has actively encouraged, trained and worked closely with Local Governments in the Vasse region and other areas of the south-west to develop mosquito management programs that reduce exposure of the community to mosquitoes that breed in natural wetlands. (3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
DOH is concerned that the increasing use of constructed wetlands in urban areas will exacerbate nuisance mosquito problems and the potential for urban outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease. (2) Yes. DOH is acutely aware that natural wetlands are important breeding sites for mosquitoes in the Vasse region. The DOH-funded Ross River virus surveillance program was responsible for defining those mosquito species that transmit Ross River virus and their breeding sites. For this reason, DOH has actively encouraged, trained and worked closely with Local Governments in the Vasse region and other areas of the south-west to develop mosquito management programs that reduce exposure of the community to mosquitoes that breed in natural wetlands. (3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(2) Yes. DOH is acutely aware that natural wetlands are important breeding sites for mosquitoes in the Vasse region. The DOH-funded Ross River virus surveillance program was responsible for defining those mosquito species that transmit Ross River virus and their breeding sites. For this reason, DOH has actively encouraged, trained and worked closely with Local Governments in the Vasse region and other areas of the south-west to develop mosquito management programs that reduce exposure of the community to mosquitoes that breed in natural wetlands. (3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
DOH is concerned that the increasing use of constructed wetlands in urban areas will exacerbate nuisance mosquito problems and the potential for urban outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease. (2) Yes. DOH is acutely aware that natural wetlands are important breeding sites for mosquitoes in the Vasse region. The DOH-funded Ross River virus surveillance program was responsible for defining those mosquito species that transmit Ross River virus and their breeding sites. For this reason, DOH has actively encouraged, trained and worked closely with Local Governments in the Vasse region and other areas of the south-west to develop mosquito management programs that reduce exposure of the community to mosquitoes that breed in natural wetlands. (3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(2) Yes. DOH is acutely aware that natural wetlands are important breeding sites for mosquitoes in the Vasse region. The DOH-funded Ross River virus surveillance program was responsible for defining those mosquito species that transmit Ross River virus and their breeding sites. For this reason, DOH has actively encouraged, trained and worked closely with Local Governments in the Vasse region and other areas of the south-west to develop mosquito management programs that reduce exposure of the community to mosquitoes that breed in natural wetlands. (3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(3) Yes. Fish, along with many aquatic insects and crustaceans are recognised as providing effective biological mosquito control. However, mosquito larvae (or wrigglers) will evade these predators in natural or constructed wetlands with shallow margins, grassy or reeded edges, dense emergent or floating vegetation and low water flow. Therefore, as stated in the newspaper article, it is important that constructed wetlands are designed and maintained appropriately to allow for effective biological control. (4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
(4) Yes. DOH-funds a proactive surveillance program that specifically monitors mosquitoes and Ross River virus from natural wetlands and winter-flooded farmland on the Swan Coastal Plain between Rockingham and Dunsborough. This provides early warning of outbreaks of Ross River virus. The management approach suggested was developed by DOH, is actively promoted in DOH media statements, pamphlets and publications and is taught at DOH mosquito management training courses for Local Government staff from throughout Western Australia.
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