March 7, 2013
South Burnett Regional Council has allocated extra funds in a bid to eradicate the dengue mosquito from the region.
Council staff will be conducting property inspections and providing treatment product and equipment.
“Theese funds were not allocated in our Budget, but Council has a duty of care to reduce the risk of disease being spread within the community and it is important that resources are provided to assist in the reduction of breeding,” Natural Resources spokesperson Cr Kathy Duff said
“Council’s Environmental Services Department have taken 24 samples and identified seven properties in the Murgon and Wondai area who had breeding Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can carry Dengue Fever and the Ross River virus.
“Most of the property owners were unaware of the breeding on their property until council officers showed them the larvae in water laying in tyres, pots and bird baths.
“In some cases the larvae were in water ponds and our officers treated these immediately with chemicals to stop the breeding.”
Environmental Services Manager Craig Patch said council officers were collecting data and mapping the spread of positively identified houses where Aedes aegypti have been found.
“To get a full understanding of how far the breeding is spread our officers will need to conduct door to door inspections,” Mr Patch said.
Cr Duff said the extra funding would assist officers in conducting the inspections.
“Residents can help council by inspecting their property and tipping out any water that may be lying in pots, vases, buckets, old tyres and tin cans,” she said.
Further updates will be provided as Council continues to take measures to reduce the risk of this mosquito spreading to other areas in the community.
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