Mosquito Management

Mosquitoes are an essential component of the natural ecosystem, however their ability to transmit disease to humans through bites of infected mosquitoes creates a significant public health risk to communities. The female mosquito actively seeks repeated blood meals in order to mature successive egg batches throughout her life.

In the Pilbara, mosquito-borne diseases of concern include Ross River Virus (RRV), Barmah Forest Virus (BFV), Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) and Kunjin virus. In the absence of a vaccine and cure for these diseases, it is important for humans to take necessary measures to prevent or reduce the risk of a mosquito bite.

The presence of mosquitoes is significantly determined by a number of environmental factors, particularly ambient temperature, vegetation and rainfall. Port Hedland is susceptible to flooding, tidal inundation and fringing marshland. There are also residential developments surrounded by tidal areas and marshland. The Town’s Environmental Health department uses a combination of physical and chemical strategies to remove potential breeding sites and to kill mosquito larvae and adults, where possible. While it is not achievable to completely eradicate an entire mosquito population, any measures that can be taken to prevent mosquito breeding and prevent the emergence of adult mosquitoes are effective to reduce the risk of a mosquito bite.

The Town’s Mosquito Management Plan (MMP) describes the key measures that are used to monitor and control mosquito numbers in Port Hedland. Monitoring measures include larval sampling, adult trapping, identifying and treating or removing breeding sites and participating in the Sentinel Chicken Program.

Members of the community can adopt personal protection measures against the mosquito bite, including the following:

  • Eliminating potential sources of mosquito breeding on private property through regular maintenance of water sources including swimming pools, pet water bowls, gutters, pots, etc.
  • Reporting any suspected breeding sites to the Town
  • Avoiding outdoor exposure at peak periods of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn)
  • Routinely applying mosquito repellent containing the active ingredient diethyl-tolumide (DEET) or picaridin
  • Wearing protective long and loose fitting clothing when outdoors

Useful links:

Town of Port Hedland Mosquito Management Plan

WA Health Mosquito Borne Diseases Information

For further information please contact the Town’s Environmental Health department on 9158 9300.

FAQs

What is the Town of Port Hedland doing to mitigate mosquito numbers?

The Town is authorised to undertake mosquito control on public and Town of Port Hedland land - private land is the responsibility of the land owner/occupier.

This includes weekly, regular fogging of areas in Port Hedland, South Hedland, Bosna and Wedgefield. 

However, there are some areas where the Town are not authorised to fog due to the proximity to a waterway/body (e.g Pretty Pool). 

Fogging will continue until the numbers can be effectively reduced, which the Town will coincide with breeding cycles and larviciding efforts.

Authorised Environmental Health Officers for the Town can issue an order to an owner or occupier of private property that is/has the potential for mosquito breeding to remove the source of breeding as per the Health Local Laws, Public Health Act, and Local Government Act.

This can be a verbal or written direction to clean up and/or treat stagnant water bodies, and if not complied with, can result in further enforcement action.

Why does the Town use a fogging method?

Fogging is an effective way to reduce current adult mosquito numbers in the area during the treatment.

This not only reduces the current adult mosquito numbers, effectively reducing disease transmission, but also reduces the subsequent breeding cycles.

When combined with larvicding (treating water bodies), this will result in a significant reduction in the number of mosquitoes in the area within a few weeks of treatment.

Is there anything else we can do as a community, to mitigate mosquitos?

Yes. In response to the increase of mosquitos following significant rains from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Zelia, the Town has purchased sachets of Coopex, an effective residual pesticide, to support residents in managing mosquitoes around their homes.

The sachets will be provided free of charge to residents for residential use only. Commercial businesses are encouraged to engage a licensed pest controller for treatments on commercial properties.

Product collection details:

  • Available:  From 12:00pm Wednesday, 26 February 2025
  • Locations: Civic Centre, Depot Administration reception (Wedgefield), and South Hedland Library desk
  • Limit: One sachet per customer

Coopex is a pyrethroid-based residual chemical designed for application on external walls, eaves, and other outdoor surfaces. The product remains active for up to 90 days unless washed off by rain or sprinklers, in which case reapplication will be required.

We also recommend following these simple steps to protect yourself, and your family from mosquito bites:

  • Cover Up – wear long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing, covering as much of the body as you can.
  • Repel – apply an effective insect repellent containing DEET (diethyltoluamide), picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE, also known as PMD) evenly to exposed skin.
  • Clean Up – remove, empty or cover water-holding containers. Keep your grass short to stop mosquitoes hanging around your home

While the Town will make make every effort to reduce mosquito numbers, mosquitoes cannot be fully eradicated, and there will always be some mosquito population. We urge everyone to take the necessary actions to protect themselves.