Mosquitoes: Awareness & Prevention

Published on 25 February 2026

Reduce your risk of mosquito-borne disease.

Mosquitoes live and breed in a variety of environments. Some species breed in water-holding containers around your house and yard, while others are found in freshwater pools in the natural environment.

Some mosquitoes are simply a nuisance, but others can spread disease to humans and animals. The most common mosquito-borne diseases in Queensland are caused by Ross River Virus, Barmah Forest Virus, and Dengue Fever. Mosquitoes can also transmit heartworm to dogs.

Maranoa Regional Council has several mosquito species present in the region, including Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the Dengue Mosquito. This mosquito is of particular concern, and Council needs your help to eradicate it.

You can reduce the risk of your family being infected with Dengue Fever, Ross River Virus or Barmah Forest Virus just by eliminating mosquito breeding sites.  These mosquitoes like to live and breed around people’s homes.  The mosquito tends to hide under furniture and usually bites people indoors and during the day.

These mosquitoes breed in water-filled containers or objects around the home, including buckets, pot plant bases, palm fronds, bird baths and old tyres. By simply cleaning up items that can hold water or emptying out containers weekly in and around your house and yard, you can help stop mosquitoes from breeding. Under the Public Health Regulation householders have a responsibility to prevent mosquitoes breeding on their property.

Other ways to reduce your reduce your risk:

• Use DEET or Picaridin based insect repellent.
• Ensure houses are screened.
• Use mosquito zappers or coils.
• Wear long sleeved light coloured clothing.
• Remember mosquitoes can breed in and around your house and yard.

What is Council doing?

Local Governments in Queensland in accordance with the Public Health Act 2005 are responsible for the mosquito-borne disease prevention and control which includes community education, mosquito surveillance and management. Maranoa Regional Council is working with Queensland Health and mosquito management experts to guide surveillance and data collection, implementing adult mosquito and biting insect surveillance, including light trapping, undertaking larval surveillance to identify breeding areas, timing surveillance activities around rainfall and river height data to capture peak activity and encouraging the community to report mosquitos and biting midge to assist with data collection.

For more information, please call Council on 1300 007 662.