The annual mosquito report found the number of aerial treatments required throughout the region doubled since last season and mosquito action is set to pick up in the coming years.
During a council meeting this week the presentation handed down by the City of Mandurah's mosquito management team, in conjunction with the Peel Mosquito Management Group, provided an overview of the PMMG activities with a specific focus on the City of Mandurah during the season.
The report stated that mosquito management activities undertaken increased by 263 per cent when compared to 2015/16.
From July 2016 to June 2017 21 aerial larviciding treatments were carried out covering a total of 2627 hectares of land in the region.
The council heard an increase in activity reflected predictions for the season made at the end of the 2015/16.
The report also found a shift in weather conditions was likely to have played some part in the demanding start to the first quarter of the current mosquito season.
The movement from an El Niño to La Niña event could lead to more challenging seasons in the next 3 to 5 years.
The program’s success in managing mosquitoes effectively despite the more favourable mosquito breeding conditions in 2016/17 reflects the ongoing efforts to develop the program.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Newman said the efforts of all involved in the region's mosquito management was vital to enjoy Mandurah's lifestyle.
“We knew it was going to be a challenging season and took steps to reduce the impact on our community," he said.
“Many residents will be familiar with the personal protective measures recommended to fight the bite, and it is important that we protect ourselves and our families and not to rely on mosquito reduction efforts alone.”
Residents might remember the Department of Health launched the "Fight the Bite" campaign in Mandurah last September, encouraging people to cover up, use mosquito repellent and clean up areas where mosquitos can breed in an aim to reduce the risk of mosquito borne diseases such as Ross River virus.
The work and collaboration between the Department of Health, helicopter contractor and the PMMG continued to be at the forefront of broad scale mosquito management nationally.
The PMMG consists of the City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray, City of Rockingham and the Shire of Waroona conducts mosquito management across the Peel Region, in partnership with the Department of Health.
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