NT warns of dengue fever risk

Mosquitoes which can carry the dengue virus have been discovered in Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. The Health and Community Services Department is conducting a survey of all exotic mosquitoes in the town. The department’s Peter Whelan says while the chance of someone in Tennant Creek contracting the virus is extremely remote, it is nonetheless a concerning situation. “Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can carry dengue, has got drought-resistant eggs,” he said. “If people start moving old tins and tyres and drums and old rainwater tanks and anything like that away from Tennant Creek, they could actually transfer these drought-resistant eggs to another place in the Territory. “Then if they get filled up with water we could start another population there.” Mr Whelan says fogging will be conducted in residential and public places and surveillance will be increased. He says people should remove water containers and refuse where mosquitoes can breed from their yards.

Mosquitoes which can carry the dengue virus have been discovered in Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.The Health and Community Services Department is conducting a survey of all exotic mosquitoes in the town.The department’s Peter Whelan says while the chance of someone in Tennant Creek contracting the virus is extremely remote, it is nonetheless a concerning situation.”Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can carry dengue, has got drought-resistant eggs,” he said. “If people start moving old tins and tyres and drums and old rainwater tanks and anything like that away from Tennant Creek, they could actually transfer these drought-resistant eggs to another place in the Territory.”Then if they get filled up with water we could start another population there.”Mr Whelan says fogging will be conducted in residential and public places and surveillance will be increased.He says people should remove water containers and refuse where mosquitoes can breed from their yards.(Source: ABC Health News, Feb 2004)