Mosquitoes ( see also Animals 1, 2 and 3 ) Mosquitoes are found across the whole of the country, but malaria is not endemic; however, in the tropical north there are regular outbreaks of similarly transmitted Ross River Fever and Dengue Fever, which are potentially fatal to children and the elderly.
Bats Insectivorous and fruit-eating bats have been found to harbour a virus related to the rabies virus and should be avoided.
Venomous snakes and spiders Venomous snakes and spidersexist throughout Australia and can be extremely dangerous. Medical assistance should be sought immediately if bitten.Snakes do their best to avoid people and you’ll probably never see one. Wear boots and long trousers when hiking through undergrowth and collect firewood carefully.
Sea snakes Sea snakes are seldom aggressive. If bitten by a snake, use a crepe bandage to bind the entire limb firmly and splint it, as if for a sprain; this slows the distribution of venom into the lymphatic system. Don’t clean the bite area (venom around the bite can identify the species, making treatment easier), and don’t slash the bite or apply a tourniquet.
Funnel-web and red back spider Two spiders whose bites can be fatal are the Sydney funnel-web and the small red back, usually found in dark, dry locations. January and February are the months in which there is the greatest danger of bites by both. Treat funnel-web bites as for snakebite.
Ticks, mites and leeches By spraying repellent over shoes and leggings will help keep these pests away in the first instance. Ticks are poisonous. Kill the tick with kerosene and then, using tweezers, pull it off, while trying to avoid squeezing the animal’s body, which will inject more venom. Leeches are gruesome but harmless; insect repellent, fire or salt gets them off the skin. More serious is the threat from various types of jellyfish. Irukandji have painless stings, but their venom causes cramping and severe abdominal pain, and side-affects which can continue for months. Box jellyfish stings leave permanent red weals, and the venom can cause rapid unconsciousness and even kill if the weals cover more than half a limb. Treat stinger victims by dousing the sting area (front and back) with liberal amounts of vinegar (never rub with sand or towels, or attempt to remove tentacles from the skin - both could trigger the release of more venom
