Take the dengue quiz and win

Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regional councils are calling on residents to take the dengue quiz as part of their annual awareness campaign.

The quiz will test your knowledge on how dengue is spread, where dengue mosquitoes breed, and how you can help prevent the spread.

Everyone who enters the competition will go into the draw to win one of five $100 Porters Mitre 10 vouchers.

The annual dengue campaign is part of an EHWIM (Environmental Health Whitsunday Isaac and Mackay) initiative.

Mayor Greg Williamson said dengue was something that everyone living in the tropics needed to be mindful of.

“The wet season is upon us, and dengue mosquitos (Aedes aegypti) will be breeding soon,” he said.

“They breed in stagnant water around the home left in buckets, pot plant bases and containers, as well as gutters.

“That’s why it’s so important to tip out any stagnant water, throw out any rubbish lying around your yard, clean out your gutters and store items that can hold water in a dry place.”

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said residents living in north and central Queensland communities needed to be aware of the signs to look for when it came to dengue.

“The symptoms of dengue fever include headaches, fevers, aches and pains, nausea, vomiting and, in some rare cases, can result in death,” she said.

“If you experience any of these symptoms, please see a doctor immediately.”

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said residents in an area prone to mosquitos should take adequate steps to protect themselves from being bitten.

“When outdoors, make sure you wear long sleeves, trousers, a hat and use an effective insect repellent,” she said.

“To prevent mosquitoes from entering your house, check your window and door screens to ensure they don’t have any holes in them.

“You can also spray surface spray at all the entry points to your house to deter insects from entering your house.”

To complete the dengue quiz and go into the draw to win one of five Porter’s Mitre 10 vouchers visit mackay.qld.gov.au/dengue. Entries will close at 5pm on Sunday, March 12, and you must be a resident living in Mackay, Isaac or Whitsunday regional council areas to be eligible.

For further dengue prevention tips visit health.qld.gov.au/dengue.