Health Services Portfolio Report - 18 May 2016

Health Services

Mosquito Control – Imported Dengue Case

The attention to the Queensland Health notified imported Dengue Fever case in the Murgon, just before Easter 2016, has now effectively been closed. Queensland Health were appreciative and impressed with the South Burnett Regional Council’s quick response to the notification. The outcome of Council’s quick intervention meant that the risk for any local transmission was effectively eliminated.
Council will be providing a report to Queensland Health on the lessons learnt from its involvement to assist other regional Council’s in effectively responding to similar situations.

Mosquito Control Program 15/16 Update

Council conducted follow up inspections on properties in the Wondai and Murgon areas where positive breeding for Aedes aegypti mosquito has been found previously. A number of houses were positively identified this season, which included previously known properties as well as unfortunately new premises. Council staff in turn responded by treating the breeding sites and areas where adults are known to harbour. Council has subsequently gone back to check how effective its treatment program worked. After checking primary breeding areas of the affected properties the good news is that this season’s treatment program has resulted in no further breeding noted. This is not to say that this is the end of the problem as the treatment process only has a residual effect of some 8 weeks, while mosquito eggs can last in the environment for years. So, Council’s commitment to monitoring and treating in the Murgon and Wondai areas will be for years to come. Environmental Services are hoping that if a few successful years of treatment can be consecutively established then we may be able to effectively eradicate this mosquito from these areas. However, continued vigilance and monitoring will always be necessary to make sure that the reintroduction of this mosquito into the Wondai, Murgon or any other area within the South Burnett does not occur. Part of this ongoing monitoring of the South Burnett has been occurring in the townships of Kingaroy, Nanango, Kumbia, Blackbutt, Tingoora and Wooroolin. The data to date shows no positive presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in these areas.
Environmental Services has almost completed its final version of the Council’s Mosquito Management Plan, which is a document required by Queensland Health. This document will be forwarded to Council for its consideration and adoption.

Show Food Inspections

Food inspections, as required by state law, at a number of the local Agricultural Shows within the South Burnett, of local and transient (i.e., “Showies”) food establishments, have recently been conducted. The results being very favourable with only a few minor food safety issues noted.