Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2005/Albatross - no airspace for mosquitoes
By Jan Forbes Assistant Regional Environment Officer
Defence's Shoalhaven Regional Environment Team is working with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) to detect and prevent the entry of exotic mosquitos to HMAS Albatross from interstate or overseas and to identify and prevent the transport of local species to places that don't already have them.
We are lucky not to currently have any mosquito-borne disease problems in the Shoalhaven. So we need to make sure we do not accidentally import new mozzie species, or export local species that could transmit diseases in other countries or other parts of Australia.
Because HMAS Albatross has so many ideal mozzie breeding areas such as open drains around the airfield, roof gutters on old buildings and other places that trap water, it is vital that species of concern are detected early and eradicated. Defence is hoping to solve some of these problems in Stage 3 of the base redevelopment but, until then, proactive management strategies are required. If a serious mosquito-borne disease outbreak were to occur here the base could be quarantined, seriously affecting Defence capability.
Mozzies can carry disease-producing micro-organisms between people and introduce new diseases. Australia has more than 300 species but remains free from many exotic species that transmit serious diseases including Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever and malaria.
In Australia, dengue fever is restricted to Queensland where it's main vector, the mosquito Aedes aegypti, occurs. Malaria used to be prevalent in Australia but was declared eradicated in 1981 but around 700 - 800 cases are imported annually by travellersinfected elsewhere. yellow fever is not present in Australia.
Viruses transmittable by mosquitoes in NSW include Australian encephalitis (Murray Valley encephalitis; Kunjin, Edge Hill, Stratford and Kokobera viruses); Ross River fever and Barmah Forest virus; Sindbis, Gan Gan and Trubanaman virus. Nearly all these viruses can occur in most States of Australia but many are now restricted to northern areas.
At HMAS Albatross mosquito eggs and larvae are collected from three tyre traps filled with a very smelly, mosquito-attracting solution made from dog biscuits dissolved in water and fermented for two weeks. The traps are used at three locations near Hangar A, Hangar F and the visiting military area hardstand (VMAH) based on mosquito import/export risk.
The traps are emptied fortnightly into special mosquito grow-out containers. Larvae or 'wrigglers' are sent to AQIS for identification when they reach their last growth stage before pupation, along with any adults that hatch and any other larvae collected from around the base.
If you are aware of any areas within your base where mosquitoes are breeding, you can help in the war on mozzies by contacting your Regional Environment Officer.
Assistant Regional Environment Officer Jan Forbes recently assumed responsibility for this program from HMAS Albatross control tower staff. Jan is beginning to identify mosquito species using a stereomicroscope recently purchased by the team for biological examination and will undertake specialised training in mosquito identification and control with AQIS staff later this year to build on these skills.
