With an epidemic of dengue fever sweeping most of SE Asia at the moment, it's a timely reminder to be vigilant against these little critters. More than 1100 people have died in Indonesia alone from this outbreak and tens of thousands have been infected.

And while most of the world's population won't come in contact with this disease there are other viruses that mosquitoes carry that have the potential to kill or, at least, severely harm.

Although there have been a few reported cases of dengue fever and malaria contracted in the tropical north of Australia, most of our attention is on the Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses. While neither are deadly, the impact they make on a victim's life can be excruciating.

Even the US is not exempt from these viruses. Mosquito-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus and the possible infiltration of Rift Valley fever are both deadly. The UK also struggles with the West Nile virus and reported cases of Ross River and Barmah Forest.

Our Gardens Are Mosquito Breeding Grounds

The disconcerting aspect of these diseases is that our gardens are usually breeding grounds for mosquitoes and their larvae. Therefore, it's important to find ways of controlling their population growth and halt the spread of these viruses.

Here's some things that you can do to slow their growth rate that I've outlined before;

1. Never allow water to stagnate at the base of container plants or in watering cans.


2. Empty children's wading pools after use.


3. Always have a pump in your pond to circulate the water and keep it on constantly in the warmer months - or at least turn it on everyday.


4. If you don't have a pump for your pond, introduce some fish as they will feed on the mosquito larvae.


5. Empty pet's watering bowls daily.


6. Make sure bird baths are regularly refreshed.


7. Keep your gutters free from leaf debris that may hold water pools.

And here are some things you can do to reduce, and even prevent, your chances of being bitten;

1. Wear long, loose clothing.


2. Apply a repellant or consume some vinegar each day to make your perspiration unattractive to mosquitoes.


3. Grow some mosquito-repelling plants near your outdoor living areas. Most will need crushing to be effective but if kept within close proximity they can be easily accessed.


4. Screen your outdoor areas with netting.


5. Purchase a bug zapper and keep it near a light source - or buy one with it's own.


6. Burn mosquito repelling incense sticks.