In the bush - and while we’re on holiday - what should we actually be scared of? Shark attack? Nah.. Despite the recent up-tick in incidents, typically there are around two deaths each year by shark in Australia and around 80 attacks world-wide.
How about snake bite? After all, we do have around twenty-two out of the top 25 most venomous snakes in the world … But this fact shouldn’t give us too much concern. In Australia there are about 3,000 snake bites per year, resulting in about 500 hospital admissions. But due to the availability of anti-venom, there are on average only two deaths per annum. And it’s not holiday-makers who bare the brunt of snake bite. Instead, since 2000 more than half of the deaths caused by snake bites in Australia have occurred in or around the victim’s home!
So what are the more likely threats?
Well, listen to the zinging in your ears. Mozzies carry threats like - Dengue fever, Australian encephalitis, Ross River virus, Barmah Forerst (BF) virus disease, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and the Chikungunya virus. And if you think that mozzies are trivial, there are around 8,000 notified cases of mosquito-borne diseases annually in Australia.
But not all mozzies are actually as big a pest as the itchy welts on your arm might lead you to believe. Government reports tell us that, of the 300 different species of mosquito within Australia, only a small number are of major concern. And only female mozzies ‘drink’ blood - and only when they’re mating because they need the extra protein. The rest of the time, a mozzie’s diet consists largely of decaying leaves, organic debris, and microbes.
The bottom line is that it pays to cover up when you’re knocking around camp or in environments where mozzie populations are expected to be high. And have you noticed that some people get bitten more often than others? … According to the Smithsonian around 20% of us are tastier than others for the little invertebrate. If the boffins are correct, those at highest risk have Type O blood, have a larger frame (who may breathe more heavily or more than others), are sweating or exercising, are pregnant and/or are wearing a dark blue or red shirt.
While the risk of disease from mosquito bite really sucks, it’s no reason to wage devastation on this tiny invertebrate. Remember, mosquitos play an important role in a variety of ecosystems. For example, in aquatic environments, mosquito larvae serve as a food source for fish. In other habitats, spiders, frogs, reptiles, and other insects eat them. More broadly, mozzies are an important and reliable food source for migratory birds. They also serve as pollinators as well. All this indicates that they’re actually a significant part of the ecosystem. So they’re probably contributing more than you to the uniqueness of the area that you’ve decided to visit in the first place.
So here’s a few tips for sharing your holiday with these industrious little critters:
· Cover your skin as much as you can when mosquitoes are active (mostly at dusk and dawn),
· Use an insect repellent on exposed skin and the brim of your hat,
· Make sure the screens and seals in your camper are secure and repair any rips and tears,
· Avoid camping near standing water,
· Then try also burning a coil or citronella product, and
· Throw a little green eucalypt leaves on the fire.
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