Fears of a Ross River Fever outbreak are prompting the Brisbane City Council to conduct mass aerial spraying of insecticide

It’s hoped the move will kill larvae before they hatch in key wetland areas across the city.

Kayla Brereton reports.

[flashvideo file=https://www.qutnews.com/uploads/tv-2010-2/20101014-Mozzie-Spray.flv /]

TRANSCRIPT

Helicopters circling overhead, quad bikes on the ground both battling to get mosquito numbers under control.

Floods, storms and debris and as well this wet season poses a possible Ross River crisis.

Mike Muller, Medical Entomologist: “We are looking at probable increases in mosquito born diseases like Ross River virus and Barmah Forest disease late in the season.”

The council says aerial spraying will get mosquito numbers under control, but won’t stop an outbreak if the wet weather continues.

Residents say that’s not good enough.

Vox 1: “Oh they are monotonous, they really should spray more because you can have screened houses and all of that, and you just open the door and they’re in, especially with the little kids.”

Vox 2: “It’s just getting beyond a joke.”

Vox 3: “We’re still concerned about what chemical they have been using.”

Experts warn the worst is yet to come.

Dr Thomas Tenkate, Environmental Health: “Basically the more rain that we have, or the higher the tides, the areas where the eggs are laid then get inundated.”

The advice steer clear of swamps, install screen doors and wear repellent.

The council is spraying over two thousand hectares of wetlands, in hopes of preventing what they say could be an outbreak of Ross River Fever.

Kayla Brereton, QUT News.