Mozzies on the increase in parts of NSW as rain, tides roll in after dry summer

ABC MID NORTH COAST BY KERRIN THOMAS, DAN COX AND JENNY MARCHANTEARLIER TODAY AT 6:56AM

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PHOTO

Dr Cameron Webb's mosquito traps have gone from catching dozens of the insects to "thousands" at some sites.

SUPPLIED: CAMERON WEBB

If you think you have been seeing or feeling more mozzies lately, you are not imagining it — the pests are thriving in parts of New South Wales.

Key points:

• Recent rain and high tides have provided the ideal conditions for mosquito numbers to boom
• Experts are warning people not to be complacent about mosquitos protection and avoidance
• Mosquitos can pass on diseases they have picked up from birds and animals

The most recent NSW Arbovirus Surveillance and Mosquito Monitoring Report found a high number of mosquitoes had been detected in Port Macquarie, Griffith, in the Riverina, and in Parramatta, in western Sydney.

A very high number of mozzies was also detected at Georges River, in the Bankstown area.

"Even though we've had a really hot and dry summer, we've also just recently had a lot of rain," said medical entomologist with NSW Health Pathology, Cameron Webb.

"We've also had some high tides inundate and flood some of our coastal wetlands and mosquitoes have responded to that really well.

"So we're seeing a big boost in mosquito numbers right up and down the east coast of Australia at the moment."

PHOTO Dr Webb said it was likely there would be another surge in mosquito numbers in mid-to-late February.

SUPPLIED (FILE IMAGE)

Surging with the tide

Dr Webb expects the blood-sucking insects will be around for at least a few weeks.

"Mosquitoes don't live very long — maybe no more than about three weeks — so in a fortnight or so, you will start to see a steady decline in mozzie numbers," he said.

"The bad news, I guess, is that we've got another series of big tides expected in early February so as soon as these mosquitoes start to disappear, we'll probably get another surge in mozzies, kind of in the middle of February or towards the end of that month.

"We've still got a couple more months of summer to go so we still have to be vigilant to try to avoid the bites of mosquitoes."

The report said high tides between February 8 and 12 could trigger the hatching of Aedes vigilax mosquitoes.

There is some good news

Despite the increase in mosquito numbers, the report found the prevalence of cases of Ross River virus in humans remained low, with Barmah Forest virus notifications similar to previous years.

Neither virus had been detected in mosquitoes collected at a number of sites across the state.

PHOTO One of the traps used by NSW Health to trap mosquitoes as part of a monitoring program.

SUPPLIED: CAMERON WEBB

Greg Bell, acting director of the North Coast Public Health Unit which covers an area from Camden Haven to the Queensland border, said it meant mosquitos were currently more of a nuisance than a health threat.

"NSW Health has a program that local authorities and other groups are involved with where we actually trap the mosquitoes and send them away to be checked," he said.

"They look for the actual viruses … such things as Ross River and Barmah Forest.

"Where they are trapping we've found nothing so that means the mosquitoes, even though they're in large numbers in many cases and they're a nuisance, they're not actually carrying the diseases."

Bites not worth associated risk

Despite viruses not being detected in mosquitoes, experts are still warning people to avoid being bitten.

"Mosquitoes, people need to realise, are vectors," Mr Bell said.