Take precautions to reduce Ross River fever risk

Northern Beaches Council advises people around the Narrabeen Lagoon and Warriewood Wetlands areas to take extra precautions against exposure to mosquitoes after Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus were detected in mosquitoes collected at Deep Creek in late March. Ross River virus was also detected in mosquitoes collected in the Warriewood Wetlands in early April.

Council together with NSW Health have been proactively trapping mosquitoes in the Northern Beaches region since December 2019 in six potentially high risk locations. The program is aimed at monitoring local mosquito activity to identify if arboviruses are present and what measures can be taken to reduce risk.

Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus, spread by mosquitoes to humans, are commonly found in marsupials such as kangaroos and wallabies. Detection in mosquitoes at Deep Creek and in the Warriewood Wetlands areas indicate the viruses are present in wildlife around these areas. Mosquitoes pick up the virus by feeding on an infected animal and can then pass it onto humans.

Mosquito populations will decline with cooler weather but people should remain vigilant by taking measures to avoid mosquito bites. The risk to the general community is considered low but the risk is greater in areas with a high number of mosquitoes and marsupials present such as bushland and wetland areas.

The community is advised to follow these steps to avoid mosquito bites:

1. Wear loose-fitting long sleeved shirts and long pants when outside especially around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Take special care during peak mosquito biting hours, especially around dawn and dusk;

2. Wear mosquito repellent to exposed skin using brands that contain either DEET or Picaridin.

3. Remove potential mosquito breeding sites from around the home by removing stagnant shallow water from saucers, buckets, etc. Mosquitoes like to breed in shallow stagnant water.

Please see the NSW Health factsheet for further information