February 5, 2016
South Burnett residents are not at risk of contracting the mosquito-borne Zika virus unless they have immediate plans to travel to countries where the disease is common.
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said while the Aedes aegypti mosquito, known to be able to transmit Zika, has been found in the region, there is currently no cause for alarm.
“An Aedes aegypti mosquito would have to feed on an infected person to transmit the disease,” Mayor Kratzmann said on Friday.
“There is no immediate risk of that happening in the South Burnett.”
The only cases of Zika virus detected in Australia so far have been in travellers who have returned from infected countries.
No cases have been identified in the South Burnett.
Council’s Manager of Environment and Waste Services Craig Patch said Council staff routinely carried out surveys and set traps for A. aegypti mosquitoes throughout the region.
“So if a South Burnett Regional Council Environmental Health Officer turns up on your property to inspect for or treat mosquitoes, there is no need to panic,” he said.
“This work is part of our normal procedure during mosquito breeding season from around early January through to the end of April.
“Council has been concerned for some time now with monitoring for and controlling the A. aegypti mosquito, which is known to carry Dengue Fever, among other diseases.
“This recent revelation about the Zika virus has now identified it as being one of those ‘other diseases’ which the A. aegypti mosquito is able to transmit. This information is just another reason why this particular mosquito needs to be controlled.”
Wondai and Murgon are known hot spots but Council Environmental Health Officers also inspect properties throughout the region and will treat breeding areas if A. aegypti mosquitos are found.
“The Council program has been very successful, and there are currently no known cases of diseases carried by the A. aegypti in the region,” Mr Patch said.
Inspections take place between 8:00am and 6:00pm on weekdays.
More information about the inspection program can be obtained by contacting an SBRC Customer Service Centre on (07) 4189-9100.
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Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick convened a roundtable of public health and infectious disease experts this week to discuss zika.
“Expert advice is that Zika virus is not currently circulating in Queensland,” Mr Dick said. “We want to keep it that way.”
He said the roundtable had agreed to two immediate measures to help boost Queensland’s response.
The State Government will spend $400,000 to increase the capacity of its laboratories – including one in Townsville – to rapidly test for Zika virus in humans.
This will be the first time that testing for the Zika virus in humans will occur in Townsville.
Queensland Health will also spend $1 million to develop a new campaign to educate people on the vital role they can play in reducing the spread of mosquitoes. The campaign would target both Dengue and Zika virus.
Mr Dick said that he intended to contact Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley to brief her and to request federal support.
He said local councils also had an important role to play.
“Officers of the Federal Government have indicated that they are prepared to support Queensland’s moves, but there are several areas where the Federal Government as well as local councils needs to be involved,” he said.
Mr Dick said experts from Queensland Health would also examine the measures already in place to help battle the spread of the mosquito species A. aegypti.
Regular mosquito eradication campaigns are conducted, in conjunction with local councils, to control mosquito populations. These campaigns are generally conducted between January and March.
Mr Dick said while minimising the potential influx of Zika into Australia was vital, the increased funding would also help expand efforts to combat Dengue and another less common disease, chikungunya.
“Every dollar we spend combatting Zika virus is also money well-spent on fighting Dengue,” Mr Dick said.
“I want Queenslanders to get to know the name Aedes aegypti. That mosquito breed is enemy – and target – number one.”
- Related article: Qld Mozzies Capable Of Spreading Zika
