The Standard contacted a spokesman for the Department of Environment who said it had no responsibility to manage the mosquitoes.

“It is up to the Department of Health and the local council,” he said.

“This stands across South Australia.”

Following The Standard’s article last Thursday about the increase in waterborne diseases presented to the Coorong Medical Centre, the Coorong Council has spoken about the measures it has in place to manage an outbreak.

Coorong District Council Mayor Roger Strother said the council had been working with the University of South Australia for a number of years to monitor the mosquitoes.

“At the moment the mosquito population is not increasing according to the data,” he said.

“Over the last three months we haven’t been notified of Ross River virus.

“And there has not been an increase of activity at this stage.”

Mayor Strother said the council was aware of the situation and was prepared should an outbreak occur.

“The lake, currently, is not too bad but when the lake dries down in January to March we will keep a close eye on the mosquitoes and ramp up the programs if needed,” he said.

“If there is an increase the council will work with the University of South Austraila and the Department of Health.

“We will probably cull the numbers.

“But, we will also implement an education program.”

Mayor Strother said at this stage the council was unsure if an increase in the number of mosquitoes was expected.

A spokeswoman for the State Health Department said she could confirm that the communicable disease control branch had been in touch with Doctor Michael Kerrigan, at the Coorong Medical Centre, about the cases he had seen.

She said Ross River virus cases had increased over the past two years but there were fewer recorded cases now than in 2006.

“To date SA Health has received no notifications indicating increased cases from the Coorong District Council area,” she said.

While the department has been in contact with Dr Kerrigan, the spokeswoman said surveillance had indicated mosquito numbers were well below average for the time of year.