Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, but some can also spread serious diseases when they bite.

Mosquito-borne diseases spread in South Australia include Ross River virusBarmah Forest virus and Japanese encephalitis virus, among others.

An important step to protecting yourself and your family is to avoid being bitten.

People should use mosquito repellents containing either DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD), that have been approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

While most mosquito-borne diseases don’t have a vaccine, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) does. The free JEV vaccination is available for eligible people at highest risk of infection.

You can also stay up to date with the arbovirus and mosquito monitoring reports summarising surveillance and control activities.