RESIDENTS of Home Hill have been reminded by the Burdekin Shire Council to be prepared to reduce the likelihood of mosquito breeding around their homes following rainfall.
Mosquito numbers increase following floods and storms as standing groundwater provides perfect breeding conditions.
Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said there were simple steps residents could take to keep them- selves and their families safe.
“As rain begins to subside across North Queensland, I urge all residents to begin inspecting their yards for potential mosquito sites and do your part in preventing breeding,” she said. “Areas of standing or stagnant water offer the perfect conditions for mosquito breeding, so as part of tidying yards, remove any pools of water you may come across – this could involve clearing debris from ditches to allow drainage or filling in holes and vehicle wheel ruts. Rain may also collect in containers around your yard, so it is important to empty, store or dispose of these responsibly. Containers could include both indoor and outdoor pot plant bases, spare tyres, tarps, fallen palm fronds, buckets, blocked gutters and more.”
While preventing breeding is important, residents have also been reminded that they should also take steps to avoid being bitten.
“If you are outdoors for an extended period, it is recommended you regularly apply insect repellent, wear long, light and loose clothing and avoid spending time outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active,” Cr McLaughlin said.