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Department of Health and Community Services Mozzie Alert and Ross River Virus Alert

regarding moderate to high numbers of Salt Marsh Mosquitoes and Common Banded Mosquitoes in Darwin and along the Northern Territory Coastline.

The Northern Territory Government's Department of Health and Community Services has issued a warning to residents to step up protection against mosquitoes to prevent cases of Ross River and Barmah Forest Virus disease.

The increase in mosquito numbers is a result of unseasonal rains that fell in July and August and also the recent highest tides of the year.

Both of these events has prompted the Northern Territory Government to launch an aerial blitz against mosquitoes by spraying a bacterial insecticide specific for mosquito larvae in mosquito breeding areas around populated areas.

In the four months preceding 19th October, 2005 over 1,570 hectares have been sprayed at a cost of $183,000.

For any person motorhoming or camping in their vehicle in the Top End Flexible Magnetic Insect Screens are a must have item for front line defence against mosquito transmitted Ross River and Barmah Forest virus disease. Flexible Magnetic Insect Screens are priced between $45 to $70 for most vehicles.