Alarm raised over increase in mosquitoes

Pastoral and Mining Region MLC Stephen Dawson has flagged concerns of an increase in mosquito numbers and associated mosquito-borne diseases in Port Hedland.

Mr Dawson directed questions to Health Minister Kim Hames in State Parliament last month asking whether he was aware of an increase in the reported number of mosquito-borne illnesses.

"Since the recent rains there have been a lot more mosquitoes around than I can ever remember," he said.

"The answer I got from the minister said there wasn't (an increase in reported cases of Ross River virus) but since then somebody approached my office who was diagnosed with RRV in August."

Parliamentary secretary Alyssa Hayden said Mr Hames was not aware of an increase in the number of cases of mosquito-borne diseases to date.

"There have only been two cases of RRV disease for Port Hedland - one in February and one in April - so far in 2013," she said.

"This compares with 20 cases of RRV reported in Port Hedland in 2012."

South Hedland resident Brian Searle said he was diagnosed with RRV and Barmah Forest virus in August.

The 50-year-old said he believed he contracted the viruses in South Hedland as he had not left the area since April.

"The doctor said there were a couple of (mosquito-borne) viruses going around and so I had the blood test taken and it came back positive for Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus," he said.

"I have good days and I have bad days.

"On a good day there is nothing really wrong with you and you can walk around no problems - on a bad day you really can't get out of bed, every joint in your body feels like it's got a bad case of arthritis, you get bad headaches and you really can't move.

"I wasn't even aware that the viruses were around until I went to the doctor; if I'd known I probably would have taken a few more precautions."

A Department of Health spokesman said figures provided in Parliament on September 19 were correct

"If (Mr Searle's case) was indeed a (serologically) confirmed case of RRV, then the case does not appear to have been notified to WA Health. The fact it has been notified most probably means that it was not a confirmed new infection," he said.

On a bad day you really can't get out of bed, every joint in your body feels like it's got a bad case of arthritis, you get bad headaches and you really can't move. Brian Searle