If you live in an area that's recently been impacted by flooding or unrelenting rain, you may have noticed an increase in mozzies.
The damp, humid conditions are ideal for mosquito breeding and raise the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as Ross River virus, Dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis (JEV).
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral infection that has been slowly spreading through eastern states and other parts of the country since 2022.
Last month an ACT man died from Japanese encephalitis after contracting the disease while holidaying in the Murrumbidgee region — the fourth death from the virus in Australia this year.
And in the last month, Queensland Health also confirmed that the virus had been detected in mosquitoes in Brisbane.
So how do you protect yourself from mosquitoes in your backyard and home? And what do you need to be on the lookout for?
What are the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis?
Daniel Rawle, head of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Emerging Viral Diseases Lab, says most people who contract Japanese encephalitis develop a mild case of the virus within five to 15 days of being bitten. But some people can become seriously ill.
Symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Severe headaches
- Changes in conscious state
- Seizures
- Fever
- Abdominal pain, vomiting
"In a small number it can be very severe, lead to encephalitis or brain infection and inflammation, and unfortunately a proportion of those people won't survive," Dr Rawle says.
Experts say it is important for anyone experiencing those symptoms to seek urgent medical attention.
A JEV vaccine is available in most states and territories at selected general practitioners, pharmacies, and community immunisation providers.
How can I stop mosquitoes from biting me?
If you're heading outside — especially around dusk or in the early evening, when mosquitoes are most active — wear long-sleeved shirts and insect repellent and make sure you don't bring any back inside with you.
Make sure you have good flyscreens to prevent mosquitoes coming into your home.
And a surprisingly low-cost method is using a good old-fashioned pedestal fan to create a strong enough air current to prevent the insects flying around.
Do mosquito zappers work?
While mosquito zappers will kill flying insects generally speaking, mosquitoes aren't very attracted to them.
Every mozzie they kill is one less to bite you, but it's probably the least effective way to control mozzies.
Do natural mosquito coils, patches and wristbands work?
Devices that release citronella and other plant-based materials will offer a little assistance, but not enough to provide complete protection.
Mosquito wristbands and patches have been shown not to really work at all. Apart from a centimetre either side of the band or patch, you're not really going to get any protection.
Does natural citronella spray work?
Some plant products will help camouflage your smell against the mosquitoes, but they're still buzzing around trying to find you.
On the other hand, proven repellents include the widely used Diethyltoumide (DEET) which effectively prevents mosquito bites and has repeatedly been shown to have minimal adverse side effects if used as directed.
Is DEET bad for me?
The short answer is no.
Insect repellents in Australia have been tested by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, who make sure they're safe and effective to use.
DEET has been available for more than 70 years now, and it's used by billions of people around the world.
Generally speaking, the only adverse reactions that people have is if they get it in their eyes, drink it or put it on very young babies.
But if you're concerned, you could think about the strength of the repellent, which often determines how long it lasts, not how many mosquitoes it keeps away.
So if you're only outside for a short period of time, you don't necessarily have to reach for the strongest tropical-strength repellent.
You can choose a lower dose, kid-friendly type repellent, because over a shorter period of time it's probably still going to provide you the same level of protection. And you might find that that's a product you're more happy to use on a regular basis.
How do I stop mosquitoes from breeding at my home?
The most important step you can take to reduce mosquito numbers in your yard is regularly getting rid of any standing water (especially after rain events), including in your gutters, plant trays, buckets and plants like bromeliads which hold pools of water.
Mozzies breed in water and they don't need much of it to lay their eggs — a thimble full of stagnant water is enough.
Doing this at least every week will break their life cycle. Especially in the warmer weather when their life cycle shortens so they breed and grow more quickly.
The entrance and overflow of rainwater tanks should have sieves with mesh small enough to prevent mosquitoes, and it's worth checking for cracks if you have a plastic tank, or for rust holes if you have a metal one.
