Department of Health

Time to start thinking about avoiding mosquito bites

06/11/25

November marks the start of mosquito season across Victoria. As the weather warms, and with the last of the spring rains, mosquitoes start to breed and will then start to bite.

Mosquitoes can spread serious disease such as Japanese encephalitis and Buruli ulcer – and avoiding mosquito bites is your best protection.

It’s ideal to get into the habit of applying mosquito repellent when we go outside – especially at dawn and dusk. It is also important to clean up around the home and look to empty any containers or areas of stagnant water that can lead to mosquito breeding.

The best mosquito repellents contain DEET or Picaridin and it is best applied on top of your sunscreen. And don’t forget the kids – for young children, apply repellent to their clothes and avoid their hands and face to reduce the chance of them ingesting the repellent.

The diseases that can be transferred by mosquitoes can be serious, and some can be fatal.

We trap and monitor mosquitoes across the state weekly, looking for diseases that the mosquitoes are carrying this season. We monitor for the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and West Nile (Kunjin substrain) virus. This helps the department to assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and generates public health advice so local communities, holiday-makers and livestock managers can be aware of the risks.

Our Chief Health Officer Caroline McElnay said, “diseases like Japanese encephalitis and Buruli ulcer can have serious health impacts, but they are preventable.”

For Japanese encephalitis, a free vaccine is available for eligible Victorians, if you live in the north of the state or work in the area, talk to your doctor to see if you’re eligible. And if you have already been vaccinated, speak to your doctor to see if you need a second dose.

Melburnians, particularly those living in or visiting coastal areas around the bay, including the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas, should also be mindful of the bacteria that causes Buruli ulcer.

The bacteria can be passed to humans by mosquito bites or through interaction with soil infected with possum poo when gardening. So, wearing gardening gloves and avoiding mosquito bites is the best prevention from Buruli ulcer.

More information is available on the Better Health ChannelExternal Link .

Reviewed 07 November 2025

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