NT Health is urging Top End residents and visitors to protect themselves from the salt marsh mosquitos as numbers are expected to increase, following heavy rainfall and high tides.
Elevated saltmarsh mosquitoes numbers can be expected between now and January.
Salt marsh mosquitos are aggressive biters that can transmit mosquito-borne diseases such as the Ross River virus and the Barmah Forest disease.
NT Health Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz said heavy recent rainfall and the upcoming high tides will trigger extensive breeding from 26 September.
"NT Health will be carrying out surveys to detect the salt marsh mosquito, and control operations in Darwin urban areas and the wetlands bordering the Northern suburbs over the next two weeks," she said.
"We collected high numbers of the salt marsh mosquito in our trap site at Karama following the last high tide, so we are predicting that extensive breeding will occur."
To minimise the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes people should:
· Wear protective light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, long trousers, and ankle protection with socks, in areas where mosquito bites are likely
· Use a protective repellent containing DEET, picaridlin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) and other mosquito protection devices as a supplement to protective clothing when outdoors in areas of mosquito activity
· Avoid exposure to coastal swamps and mangrove areas
· Use mosquito coils, lanterns and barrier sprays in outdoor areas and near the home to prevent mosquitoes from entering houses.
· Ensure infants, children and animals are adequately protected against mosquito bites.
