Torres News_Edition 119_29 February 2024

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Thursday, 29 February 2024

Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.

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Invasive mossie numbers down BY CARLI WILLIS

Scientists say efforts to stop mosquito breeding after last year’s malaria outbreak in the Torres Strait have worked. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) scientists said mosquito surveys on Saibai and Boigu have turned out low numbers of the invasive species. Native Title body Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) worked with them to engage with communities as they conducted the surveys. Senior Research Scientist Dr Brendan Trewin said they were looking for Dengue and Asian tiger mosquitoes – the most invasive mosquito species in the world and a major spreader of human viral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya. “[We are] looking for containers in people’s backyards and looking through those containers for larvae to collect,” he said. “Those larvae are the juvenile mosquitoes, they turn into adults and then fly away. “But [we are] also doing education, letting the homeowner know if we find those in their backyard.” Dr Trewin said any mosquitoes they found were analysed under a microscope. He said if the species could not be identified that way, it was sent to Brisbane for DNA testing. “There were malaria cases up on Boigu last year, and the

MAIN PIC: Torres Webb with TSIRC Environmental Health Worker Jacob Akiba on Saibai Island.

INSET PIC: CSIRO scientist Dr Brendan Trewin with Mareko Tom & Thomas Matthew checking on mossie numbers. Pics supplied. community and Queensland Health worked really hard to protect the communities from mosquito-borne diseases by making sure they were aware of not coming out at nighttime [or] when the mosquitoes are biting at dawn and dusk,” he said. “They had a considerable spray program, which was designed to prevent both dengue and malaria.

“What we’re finding is that there really aren’t any of these mosquitoes around anymore – they have done a great job.” Just weeks ago Queensland Health issued a state-wide warning for Ross River virus as it had been detected in traps further south. Mr Trewin said the scientists

were relieved they hadn’t found any mosquitos with Ross River virus on Saibai and Boigu. CSIRO Community Engagement Advocate Torres Webb said raising community awareness would help prepare communities for Zika virus and Chikungunya disease, which were found in other places of the world.

He said Torres Strait Islanders had a deep knowledge of which mosquitoes belonged to each island. “Families and community on the ground, they know about mosquitoes and have traditional names for the native mosquitoes that are found in the community,” he said.

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