Read the latest Council news here

Phone/email: Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm

Office/cashier: Mon to Fri 9am - 4:30pm

Council@yass.nsw.gov.au

+61 2 6226 1477 After Hours: +61 2 6226 1477 - Press one to be diverted to our Duty Officer +61 2 6226 2598

Japanese encephalitis Virus (JEV) is a rare but serious disease caused by infected mosquitoes biting humans. Less than 1% of people infected with JEV will experience symptoms, however some people can develop a severe infection that results in permanent neurological complications or death.

Thanks to NSW Health, Council have been provided with full funding to trap mosquitos in the Yass area to be sent off for testing for JEV. Councils Environmental Health officers have been leading the program and answered some questions about what it entails

Who is involved in mosquito trapping? NSW Health has advised our community to take steps to protect ourselves and each other from Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and other mosquito-borne diseases this summer. JEV spreads to people from infected mosquitoes. In rare cases, it can cause severe illness and long-term health problems.

Yass Valley Council has been identified as an area of possible risk for JEV and we are therefore participating in the Mosquito Monitoring Program run by NSW Health. 

We are responsible for the trapping and dispatch of mosquitoes that are caught in the trap to the Lab in Sydney for analysis.  

The mosquito trapping component of the program involves setting traps to collect mosquitoes and dispatching collected mosquitoes via courier to the Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) at Westmead Hospital for species identification and testing for the presence of viruses carried by mosquitoes (arbovirus) that can be transmitted to humans.

What does trapping do? Trapping catches a sample of mosquitos in a trap that is set up overnight from dusk to dawn and the collected mosquitoes are sent to Sydney and analysed in the laboratory. The mosquitos are lured into the specially made trap by a light and carbon dioxide gas (which they are attracted to) and then blown into the trap by a little fan.  This is set up at dusk and the trapped mosquitos are collected the next day and sent to Sydney to the Laboratory for testing.   

Mosquitoes are analysed for species type and abundance and common mosquito borne diseases. This contributes to the NSW Health Arbovirus Monitoring Program.  

When are we trapping? Spring to Autumn. The wet weather, together with warmer temperatures, increases the risk of mosquito-borne disease and the number of mozzies in the environment.

Where are we trapping? Initially, The Trap was set up around the YVC Sewage Treatment Plant as it is a low lying area near water, We received a low count, so we have now moved the trap to another area under trees along Chinamans Creek in Yass.

Why are we doing it? Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. In 2022, JEV was detected in NSW for the first time with 13 cases of JE identified.  Most people who contracted the disease had exposures to mosquitoes in the Murrumbidgee LHD or the southern part of Far West NSW. Yass Valley has not had any positive cases of JEV.

Tip on how to enjoy the great outdoors, mozzie bite free Summer is a great time to get outdoors with the whole family. Just like we love the warm weather, so do mosquitoes (mozzies).

Some mozzies in NSW can carry viruses like the Japanese encephalitis virus, that can make you very sick. With more mozzies buzzing around, enjoy your time outdoors this summer by taking the steps to protect:

Following these simple steps will help to protect you and your community from mozzie bites and illnesses, so you can relax and enjoy the outdoors, bite free.

The latest information on mosquitoes and bite prevention can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/keepmozziesaway 

Mosquito Alert signs placed around Yass

87 page views for the last 30 days

Council@yass.nsw.gov.au

Disclaimers and Copyright While every endeavour has been taken by the Yass Valley Council to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up to date, Yass Valley Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith. Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant government agencies. Yass Valley Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content. Portions of the Yass Valley Council information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced information or material is copyright to the respective provider. © Yass Valley Council - www.yass.nsw.gov.au / +61 2 6226 1477 / Fax: +61 2 6226 2598