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| IMAGE: ABC News 28 March 2019 |
Rain was a constant feature in coastal north-east NSW last month.
Up to 27 February 2021 Yamba had recorded 242.2mm, Evans Head 296.8mm, Ballina 329.2mm, Cape Byron 247.4mm and Murwillumbah 299.4mm.
Autumn which begins on today, 1 March, is expected to bring more rain through to May.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 25 February 2021:
Autumn is likely to be wetter than average across Arnhem Land in the NT, southern and eastern Queensland, most of NSW, eastern SA, and eastern Tasmania. Chances greater than 70% are generally confined to small pockets of southern Queensland and north-east NSW.
Along with the rain Autumn is likely to be warm, with north-east NSW having a 60-70 per cent chance of exceeding median maximum and minimum temperatures.
This combination of a wetter and warmer March (beginning with median maximum temperatures on the coast from Clarence to the Tweed expected to be between 27-28 degrees Celsius) will likely see mosquitos remain active in our region, so locals need to remember to apply mosquito repellent when outdoors even though Summer has ended.
The incidence of aboroviral diseases, and Ross River Fever in particular, have been increasing since 2020.
ABC News, excerpt, 16 February 2021:
NSW Health says symptoms of Ross River infection include fever, rash and joint pains, and that prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites.
"The majority of people recover completely in a few weeks. Others may experience symptoms such as joint pain and tiredness for many months."
Official figures show many regions experienced their worst year on record for the virus.
There were more than 640 cases in the Hunter-New England Local Health District, its highest number in the past 30 years.
About 400 cases were identified in the northern and mid north coast regions — the 30-year average for the Northern NSW Health District is 135 cases a year.
Cameron Webb, a researcher for NSW Health Pathology, said mosquito numbers exploded after heavy rain in February 2020.
"But it's incredibly difficult to predict ... even though you do get more cases of the disease when there are more mosquitoes about, it's a bit more complicated than that," Dr Webb said.
"Because mosquitoes don't hatch out of the wetland already infected with the virus, they have to bite native animals and those animals are typically kangaroos and wallabies.
"You will be at greater risk ... when you are outside some of the main urban areas, particularly when you are in that interface between the wetlands and areas where there is a lot of wildlife."
Council campaign
Councils on the far north coast, one of the worst-affected areas, recently launched the Tackling Mosquitoes Together campaign.
It was developed to raise awareness about risk factors, especially trouble spots around the home.
The Tweed Council's environmental health officer, Kelly Piazza, said mosquitoes would breed wherever there was still water.
"Anywhere and everywhere, and they will take any opportunity," she said.
"So anywhere the water can sit and be stagnant, that's where you're going to find that mosquitoes will come and lay their eggs."…...
Tackling Mosquitoes Together campaign runs through to end of April 2021. Details at https://www.tacklingmosquitoestogether.com.au/
