• Skip to main content
  • Skip to navigation
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Crest
Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia Crest

Additional Menu

  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
Go to WA Government search
  • About us
    • Overview
    • Vision and values
    • Our structure
      • Board
      • Executive
      • District Health Advisory Councils
    • Our research
      • Clinical trials
      • Innovation
      • Research
    • Building projects
      • Project - Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment
      • Project – Laverton Hospital
      • Project – Tom Price and Paraburdoo Hospitals
      • Project - Geraldton Health Campus
      • Project - Mullewa Health Centre
      • Completed projects
      • Country health housing
    • Publications
      • Annual reports
      • Strategic plans
      • Health profiles and service plans
      • Policies
    • Contact us
      • Provide feedback
      • Aishwarya’s CARE Call
  • Our services
    • Kimberley
      • Kimberley regional profile
      • Kimberley local health directory
      • Kimberley health services
      • Kimberley contacts
    • Pilbara
      • Pilbara regional profile
      • Pilbara local health directory
      • Pilbara health services
      • Pilbara contacts
    • Midwest
      • Midwest regional profile
      • Midwest local health directory
      • Midwest health services
      • Midwest contacts
    • Goldfields
      • Goldfields regional profile
      • Goldfields local health directory
      • Goldfields health services
      • Goldfields contacts
    • Wheatbelt
      • Wheatbelt regional profile
      • Wheatbelt health services
      • Wheatbelt contacts
    • South West
      • South West regional profile
      • South West local health directory
      • South West health services
      • South West contacts
    • Great Southern
      • Great Southern regional profile
      • Great Southern local health directory
      • Great Southern health services
      • Great Southern contacts
    • Command Centre
      • Acute Patient Transfer Coordination
      • Acute Specialist Telehealth Service
      • Advanced Patient Monitoring System
      • Emergency Telehealth Service
      • Inpatient Telehealth Service
      • Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service
    • Voluntary assisted dying
  • Our patients
    • Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - PATS
      • About PATS
      • PATS contacts
      • PATS claim forms and information sheets
      • PATS processes explained
      • PATS subsidies
      • PATS eligibility
      • Eligible specialist medical services
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Country PatHS
    • Live Organ Donor Travel and Accommodation Reimbursement Scheme
    • Telehealth
      • Is telehealth suitable for me?
      • Do you already have a telehealth appointment scheduled?
      • Telehealth for non-government organisations and health professionals
      • Telehealth stories
      • Emergency Telehealth Service
      • Telehealth technical support and regional contacts
  • Our workforce
    • Work with us
      • Living and working in country WA
      • Medical workforce and education
      • Nursing and midwifery careers
      • Allied health and health science careers
      • Online Contractor Registration and Induction
    • Students
      • Career prospects
      • Work experience
      • University and TAFE study
      • Financial assistance
      • Student health professionals
    • Scholarships and grants
  • News
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. 2021
  4. 01
  5. 07
  6. Fight the bite from mosquitoes in the Kimberley

Fight the bite from mosquitoes in the Kimberley

Fight the bite from mosquitoes in the Kimberley

Mosquitoe on person's hand
22/06/2020

If you live in the Kimberley or have travelled there before you’ll know that there’s a lot to love, including Broome’s beautiful Cable Beach, the incredible camping and fishing in Kununurra and the striking Purnululu National Park. While you’re able to visit all of this beauty once again it’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites while in the region.

The WA Country Health Service Regional Director (Kimberley) Bec Smith said that mosquito bites have been linked to serious viruses with the insects in the Kimberley known to be carriers of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE).

“There are currently no known cures or a vaccine for MVE making effective protection against bites the best prevention,” said Ms Smith.

“Should you become ill with fever, drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness you should seek medical advice quickly.”

Travelers and residents alike are being urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitos by:

• avoiding outdoor exposure around dawn and early evening when mosquitoes are most active
• wearing protective clothing (long, loose-fitting, light-coloured) when outdoors
• applying an effective personal repellent containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) or picaridin to exposed skin or clothing and always follow the label instructions
• using mosquito coils and lanterns, and apply barrier sprays containing bifenthrin in patio and outdoor areas around houses
• ensuring insect screens are installed and in good condition on houses and caravans
• using mosquito nets and mosquito-proof tents when camping
• ensuring infants and children are adequately protected against mosquito bites, preferably with suitable clothing, bed nets or other forms of insect screening.

“The Kimberley is still safe to visit so long as you take some simple steps to avoid mosquito bites, particularly when camping, fishing or undertaking any other activity outdoors,” added Ms Smith.

For more information about mosquito prevention visit: https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/en/Articles/N_R/Prevent-mosquito-bites-on-holiday-in-Australia

Last Updated: 07/01/2021
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer menu

  • wa.gov.au
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Brought to you by the Department of Health, Western Australia

© Government of Western Australia 2018 to