Te Whatu Ora in Hawke’s Bay is increasing mosquito surveillance within 400m buffer zones around Hawke’s Bay Airport and Napier Airport following Cyclone Gabrielle.
Members of its Health Protection Team began surveillance at the beginning of May, which will be ongoing.
The monitoring is required in order to prevent the introduction of foreign species of mosquito, as mosquito numbers can grow rapidly following a severe storm and flood.
Mosquitos live and breed in standing water. They are often most active at dawn, around late afternoon and just after dusk.
Residents living in survey zones have been advised of the monitoring and are also being asked to help reduce mosquito breeding environments by:
- Emptying and removing unnecessary containers of water (these include used tyres, gutters, jars, bottles, pot plant saucers etc.)
- Covering or screening any cisterns or water tanks
- Draining and filling boggy areas and depressions on their property
- Screening venting pipes on septic tanks
- Keeping swimming pools well chlorinated and clean of debris
To find out more about reducing mosquito numbers visit https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/environmental-health/pests-and-insects/mosquitoes
Pictured: Health Protection team member Ian Jarvis undertaking mosquito surveillance work.
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