Health Centre

Mosquito-Bourne Diseases

Staying safe from mosquitoes after heavy rainfall, mosquitoes can grow and spread in the pools of water left behind. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that are spread through their bites. Mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn, but some will also bite during the day. The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid mosquito bites. When mosquitoes are prevalent and cannot be avoided families can protect against mosquito bites by:

• covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
• applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home
• limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.

Further information:

• Better Health Channel information about preventing mosquito-borne diseases.
• A handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home.
• Department of Health safety advice for flood-affected areas, in a range of languages.