The delicate temperatures that prevailed throughout the winter are estimated to be favorable circumstances for the early onset of the interval of excessive seasonal exercise of mosquitoes and for the recording of elevated mosquito populations and robust circulation of West Nile virus.
The Nationwide Public Well being Group (NPO) recommends taking steps to guard your self from mosquitoes to cut back the danger of West Nile virus an infection, which is anticipated to re-emerge this 12 months.
Outbreaks of West Nile virus an infection happen in lots of nations worldwide, in addition to in lots of European nations, on an annual foundation, normally throughout the summer time and autumn months.
From 2010 onwards, they seem outbreaks virtually yearly in our nation as nicely. Due to this fact, reoccurrence of circumstances throughout the present mosquito circulation season (as in any transmission season) is taken into account doubtless and anticipated.
How is West Nile virus transmitted?
West Nile virus is principally transmitted by a chunk contaminated of “widespread” mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are contaminated by contaminated birds (sure species primarily wild birds).
Contaminated individuals don’t additional transmit the virus to different mosquitoes or to different individuals (by direct contact).
Nearly all of individuals contaminated with the virus don’t get sick in any respect or have solely delicate illness, whereas only a few individuals (< 1% of these contaminated) develop extreme illness that impacts the nervous system (primarily encephalitis or meningitis).
Older individuals (over 50) and folks with immunosuppression/power underlying ailments are extra prone to turning into severely ailing.
Mosquito safety measures
Because the epidemiology of the virus is complicated and decided by many components, the areas of virus circulation and outbreaks can’t be predicted with certainty.
Due to this fact, EODY recommends that you just adjust to them particular person safety measures from mosquitoes, all through the territory, all through the interval of circulation of mosquitoes:
- Use authorized physique and environmental insect repellents (based on the directions to be used), screens, mosquito nets, air conditioners/followers, appropriate (lengthy) clothes.
- Don’t go away stagnant water anyplace (thus successfully serving to to restrict mosquito breeding grounds in non-public areas).
- Older individuals, immunosuppressed individuals and folks with power underlying ailments should comply with these measures with specific consistency, as they’re extra prone to turning into severely ailing.
- In every interval of transmission, and with the goal of the well timed implementation of focused response and prevention measures, the EODY carries out enhanced epidemiological surveillance of the illness, informs well being and public well being professionals, instantly investigates the incidents and is in fixed communication and cooperation with the competent nationwide authorities and native authorities authorities.
Complete Motion Plan
The truth is, the Ministry of Well being, in collaboration with EODY, proceeded to attract up a complete Motion Plan for West Nile virus an infection, with the goal of standardized implementation of actions to handle and cut back the danger of transmission of the virus, based mostly on a danger evaluation.
For the interval 2024, EODY having ensured the rise of the accessible funds, has organized and can implement an expanded program of enhanced entomological surveillance, via the event of a cooperation community with public/wider public sector businesses, with an extension of the community of mosquito traps, with standardized methodology and consultant geographical distribution.
This system will probably be carried out – underneath the coordination of EODY – in collaboration with the Benakeio Phytopathological Institute, the College of Western Attica, the Expertise and Analysis Basis, the ELGO Dimitra Group, the Agricultural College of Athens, the Aristotle College of Thessaloniki, the College of Thessaly, the Democritus College of Thrace and the College of Patras.
The entomological knowledge generated will probably be available to native authorities accountable for mosquito administration, for focused and well timed implementation of management measures at native degree.
Supply: RES-MPE
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