Fight the Bite campaign

There is no cure or vaccine to protect against mosquito-borne diseases acquired in Australia. The only way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten.

WA Health’s Fight the Bite campaign aims to educate individuals on simple ways to prevent being bitten and reduce mosquito breeding around their home/holiday accommodation.

Join our effort to Fight the Bite by downloading the campaign resources below and promoting it within your community.

Key messages
  • In Western Australia, mosquitoes can transmit Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Kunjin virus and the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis virus.
  • There is currently no cure and no vaccine for any mosquito-borne disease acquired in WA.
  • The only way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
  • Cover Up – wear long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing, covering as much of the body as you can.
  • Repel – When outdoors and mosquitoes are present, apply insect repellent containing DEET (diethyltoluamide) or picaridin evenly to exposed skin.
  • Clean Up – simple changes around your home can reduce mosquito breeding. Remove, empty or cover water-holding containers.
Target audience
  • Mosquitoes can bite anyone of any age - all Western Australians should take precautions to ensure they are not bitten by mosquitoes.
  • Visitors to WA
  • WA residents travelling within Australia and overseas
  • Local governments 
  • Outdoor event stakeholders
  • General Practitioners and nurses
  • Population Health Units
Timing

The peak mosquito season for the South West (including the Perth metropolitan area) of WA are the spring and summer months, from September to March.

The peak mosquito season for the Kimberley region, and parts of the Pilbara, coincides with the wet season and extends from January to May.

However mosquitoes breed all year round, so people need to remain vigilant.

Campaign materials

Posters

Standard (PDF 4.1MB)

Poster: fight the bite

Indigenous Communities part 1 (PDF 4.6MB)

Poster: fight the bite indigenous communities 1

Indigenous Communities (PDF 13.5MB)

Poster: fight the bite indigenous communities

Indigenous Communities part 2 (PDF 4.9MB)

Poster: fight the bite indigenous communities 2

Indigenous Communities part 3 (PDF 4.7MB)

Poster: fight the bite indigenous communities 3

Indigenous Communities Part 4 (PDF 4.6MB)

Poster: fight the bite indigenous communities 4

Brochures

Ross River Virus A5 (PDF 2.3MB)

Brochure: Fight the bite A5

On holiday overseas (PDF 849KB)

Brochure: fight the bite on holiday overseas

At home (PDF 584KB)

Brochure: fight the bite at home

On holiday in Australia (PDF 591KB)

Brochure: fight the bite on holiday in australia

Facebook infographics

Infographic 1 (PNG 2.3MB)

Facebook infographic: fight the bite 1

Infographic 2 (PNG 2.3MB)

Facebook infographic: fight the bite 2

Infographic 3 (PNG 2.3MB)

Facebook infographic: fight the bite 3

 

Infographic 5 (PNG 2.3MB)

Facebook infographic: fight the bite 5

Infographic 6 (PNG 2.4MB)

Facebook infographic: fight the bite 6

Additional Facebook resources

General Home Local Government

Screen Advertisement

Radio advertisements

Further information

For more information or assistance in developing new resources for your region, please contact: medical.entomology@health.wa.gov.au

Fight the Bite is an initiative of the Government of South Australia

This web content has been reproduced and adapted with permissions from SA Health