Katherine is a small inland regional town (population 11,000) on the Katherine River, 280 klm south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. On the 26th January (Australia Day) 1998 following very heavy rainfall, the Katherine River began flooding the town and by the following afternoon reached record levels. The Central Business District and most of the older residential section of the town was flooded by up to 2 metres of swiftly flowing
water, forcing many people from their homes and leaving flooded areas close to the town.
The Territory Health Service began preparing for a potential mosquito pest problem and an associated outbreak of mosquito borne disease in the Katherine area as soon as the flooding was reported.
This paper outlines the various elements of an integrated mosquito control program in Katherine, involving public awareness, larval mosquito control, adult mosquito control and engineering control methods. The program has provided a number of lessons for improved mosquito control following floods which are applicable to other areas in Australia.