Wagait Beach mosquito investigation 14-15 January 2015

Abstract

Following receipt of a mosquito enquiry from Wagait Shire Council on 9 January 2015, Medical Entomology staff undertook a mosquito field investigation at Wagait Beach. Adult mosquito trapping showed moderate to high levels of the northern salt marsh mosquito, Aedes vigilax, a potential vector for Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV). Site investigations revealed extensive Ae. vigilax breeding in coastal sand dune depressions at the northern fringe of Wagait Beach. Aerial photography suggested large seasonal mosquito breeding sites exist nearby to Wagait Beach, not only for Ae. vigilax, but also for Culex annulirostris, the principal vector for RRV, BFV, Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin virus, and for Anopheles mosquitoes, the potential vectors for Malaria. The most feasible mosquito mitigation measures for Wagait Beach residents are likely to be personal protection and mosquito avoidance.