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BLOODTHIRSTY mosquitoes have made a strong resurgence in central Victoria in the wake of the wet weather.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the recent rain and flooding had created ideal breeding conditions for the irritating insect and higher numbers were expected this summer.
Emma Wolters, a catchment restoration officer with the North Central Catchment Management Authority, said she had never seen a year this bad for mosquitoes in the 10 years she had been doing her job in the area.
“They’ve exploded. They’ve just gone from normal numbers that you’d expect at this time of year to, in some places, swarms,” Miss Wolters said.
She said at one property she recently visited, north of Bendigo, the mosquitoes numbered in the thousands and there were countless insects resting on the water of the creek in numbers she had never seen before.
The number of mosquitoes was so vast, she said, standing still became near-impossible.
Miss Wolters said many mosquitoes seen this spring were also noticeably larger than previous years.
Health authorities are urging people to protect themselves by covering up with long, loose-fitting clothing, using repellents containing containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin, controlling mosquito numbers, installing screens on windows and doors, and using nets when camping.
The DHHS spokesperson said it was important people ensured there were no pools of water on their property.
“While a higher number of mosquitoes can be annoying, some mosquitoes can also transmit serious diseases,” the DHHS spokesperson said.
These can include Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.
Last year there were numerous cases of Ross River virus in central Victoria, including 11 in the City of Greater Bendigo area, but there were no reported cases of the Barmah Forest virus.
The last recorded human case of Murray Valley encephalitis in the state was in 1974, but the potentially life-threatening nature of the disease means health authorities remain cautious.
The spokesperson said anyone concerned about bites should seek medical advice.
Social media has also seen plenty of home remedies and repellents being shared, as people desperately search for a way to keep the widely hated insects and their irritating bites at bay.