Mosquitoes
Warm weather in the summer months bring more mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes can carry diseases that can transmit to humans when they bite.
The most common disease mosquitos in the Loddon Mallee region carry is Ross River Virus, which most people recover from completely within three to six months. There are other potentially serious infections that have been reported in Victoria and other south-eastern Australian states. This includes Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). JE is currently the only mosquito disease of concern in the Loddon Mallee region we have a vaccine for.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe this summer.
Prepare your home:
- Clean stagnant water around your home (even very small pools of water) where mosquitoes can breed.
- Empty and replace water in bird baths, pet drinking bowls, and water features at least once a week.
- Cut long grass, shrubs, and bushes.
- Keep your gutters and swimming pools clean.
- Check water tanks are sealed and fitted with mosquito-proof screens and/or flap valves on every opening including overflows.
- Maintaining fly screens on windows, doors, vents, and chimneys.
- Using insect surface sprays both inside and outside the house to kill mosquitoes.
Protect yourself from being bitten:
- Use mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridin on all exposed skin. Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes as well as shoes with socks. Note: mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing.
- Try to limit outdoor activity during the evening when mosquitos are more active.
- If on holiday, making sure your accommodation is fitted with mosquito netting or screens.
Get the JE vaccine if you:
Live or work (including seasonal workers) in the high-risk local government areas (LGAs) and regularly spend time in the outdoors, you are likely eligible for the JE vaccine. In the Loddon Mallee, this includes:
- Bendigo
- Buloke
- Campaspe
- Gannawarra
- Loddon
- Mildura
- Swan Hill
→ Speak to your doctor about the JE vaccine. See the table below for where you can get the JE vaccine if you are eligible.
Note: this list is not exhaustive and local supply may change. Please call ahead to check availability and make a booking where necessary.
| LGA | Name | Address and contact details |
| Bendigo | Bendigo Medical Centre |
57 Bridge St, Bendigo (03) 5454 2300 |
| Elmore Primary Health |
46-48 Jeffrey St, Elmore (03) 5432 6001 |
|
| Marong Medical Practice - Marong |
51 Goldie St, Marong (03) 5435 2266 |
|
| UFS Pharmacies |
379 Hargreaves St, Bendigo (03) 5443 6430 |
|
| Buloke | Charlton Medical Centre |
2 Learmonth Street, Charlton (03) 5477 6888 |
| Campaspe | Campaspe Medical Centre |
1 Pascoe St, Rochester (03)5484 4480 |
| Campaspe Shire Council |
Bookings at: Immunisations Campaspe Shire Council 1300 665 535 |
|
| Chemist Warehouse Echuca |
Shop 3, 102 Northern Highway, Echuca (03) 5482 1017 |
|
| Ian Collie Pharmacy |
174 Allan Street, Kyabram (03) 5852 1213 |
|
| Rich River Health Group |
214 Ogilvie Ave, Echuca (03) 5480 6700 |
|
| TerryWhite Chemmart Rochester |
27 Gillies Street, Rochester (03) 5484 1025 |
|
| Scope Medical Centre |
100 Fenaughty Street, Kyabram (03) 5853 1094 |
|
| The Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice |
179-183 Annesley Street, Echuca (03) 5480 6001 |
|
| Gannawarra | Gannawarra Shire Council |
Locations at Cohuna and Kerang Bookings: (03) 5450 9333 |
| Ochre Medical Centre Cohuna |
111 King George Street, Cohuna (03) 5456 2609 |
|
| Loddon | Boort Medical Practice |
31 Kiniry Street, Boort (03) 5451 5220 |
|
Dingee Bush Nursing Centre |
21 King Street, Dingee (03) 5436 8309 |
|
|
Marong Medical Practice - Inglewood |
8 Hospital Street, Inglewood (03) 5438 3308 |
|
| Inglewood Pharmacy | 30-36 Brooke Street, Inglewood (03) 5438 3021 |
|
| Macedon Ranges | Brooke Street Medical Centre | 14 Brooke Street, Woodend (03) 5427 1002 |
| Romsey Medical Centre |
99 Main Street, Romsey |
|
| Springs Medical - Kyneton |
89 Piper Street, Kyneton (03) 5422 1298 |
|
| Mildura | Irymple Medical Centre |
3/2109 Fifteenth Street, Irymple (03) 5024 5746 |
| KMG Mildura |
133-137 Langtree Ave, Mildura (03) 5021 4466 |
|
| Mildura Rural City Council |
Bookings at: Immunisations (mildura.vic.gov.au) (03) 5018 8100 |
|
| Ouyen Pharmacy |
27 Oke Street, Ouyen (03) 5092 2542 |
|
| Priceline Pharmacy Mildura |
91 Langtree Avenue, Mildura (03) 5023 1003 |
|
| Silverline Health Care | 153 Madden Avenue, Mildura (03) 5055 5000 |
|
| Sunraysia Community Health Service |
137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura (03) 5022 5444 |
|
| Swan Hill | Marraboor Pharmacy |
34 McCrae Street, Swan Hill (03) 5032 2192 |
| Robinvale District Health Services |
128 Latje Road, Robinvale (03) 5051 8111 |
|
| Royal Flying Doctors Service Health Group, Robinvale |
128-132 Latje Road, Robinvale (03) 5026 1744 |
|
| Swan Hill Primary Health Medical Centre |
31 High Street, Swan Hill (03) 5033 9900 |
|
| Swan Hill Rural City Council |
Bookings at: Immunisations - Swan Hill Rural City Council (03) 5036 2591 |
More information on mosquito repellents:
There are different types of mosquito repellents available but the most effective are those containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil.
Repellent should be applied as a thin layer evenly to all exposed areas of skin and rubbed in. When using sunscreen as well, use sunscreen first, and then apply the repellent. Mosquito repellent does need to be reapplied – check the product instructions for how frequently this should happen as it depends on the strength of the repellent. If you’re sweating a lot or swimming, you will need to reapply more frequently.
Repellents containing citronella or tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil have not been shown to provide effective protection.
Wearable repellents (patches / wrist bands) and ultrasonic devices have also not been shown to provide effective protection from mosquitoes.
Links for further information:
Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease - Better Health Channel
Mosquitoes - protect your home checklist - Better Health Channel
Resources
