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Dengue Fever

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Advice to hotel, motel and hostel managers in north Queensland

Your premises could be the first port of call for travellers from dengue affected countries who may be infected with the dengue virus. Therefore, it is vital that you do not breed dengue mosquitoes on your premises. This could be a health hazard to your staff, other guests, or the wider community.

Get rid of dengue mosquito breeding sites

Dengue mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water. The dengue mosquito does not breed in rivers, swamps, open drains, creeks or mangroves. These mosquitoes do not like to travel far from mosquito breeding sites. The best form of control is to get rid of dengue mosquito breeding sites inside and outside. Dengue mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water, such as:

• buckets
• tyres – discarded with no rims
• tarpaulins and black plastic
• pot plant bases
• vases
• boats
• tin cans and plastic containers
• roof guttering
• rainwater tanks with damaged or missing screens
• birdbaths
• drain sumps
• fallen palm fronds
• striking containers (to grow plant cuttings)
• coconut shells.

'Stop the mosquito breeding
and you can stop the disease'

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You should check your premises once a week and:

• throw out old containers that are not needed
• store containers in a dry place
• tip out containers that can hold water
• clean out roof gutters.

Downloadable posters on preventing dengue are available.

For more information view the Guide to the prevention of dengue mosquito breeding on businesses and commercial premises.

Delegated Queensland Health officers and local council environmental health officers (EHOs) have the jurisdiction to enter a property to assess whether there are mosquitoes breeding on that site.

In previous outbreaks, a small number of hotels and hostels have been a significant source of dengue mosquito breeding. Staff in some of these premises have acquired dengue in their workplace. All business operators need to be aware that it is against the law to breed mosquitoes on business (or residential) premises and that fines may apply.

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