The high temperatures for the season create the ideal setting for the development of mosquitoes that made their presence felt even during the mild winter.
Therefore, Regions and Municipalities are preparing an integrated plan to combat mosquitoes, which are transmitters of infectious agents for the transmission of diseases and dangerous infections.
In Attica alone, 85 traps have been placed, with the mosquitoes caught being epidemiologically controlled at the EODY. The Region sprays every 15 days to kill the larvae.
“Mosquitoes are all tested for West Nile virus infection as an early warning system that directly directs intensified spraying actions in the region to inform the world” notes Dr. Danae Pervanidou from the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance.
“The mild conditions observed this winter favored their continued activity and in some cases the presence of large populations (…) We are especially vigilant for public health. The tiger is closely related to dengue fever, this creates a headache and a challenge in public health”, pointed out Entomologist Researcher at the Benakeio Phytopathological Institute, Antonis Michaelidis.
The Region of Attica thickens spraying for larvicides even every 15 days from March to November.
“What we fear is the Egyptian mosquito, a mosquito that appeared in Cyprus, has come very close to us. This mosquito transmits everything, Zika, Tsikokuya, West Nile virus, Malaria and if it passes into the country we will have both the new mosquito and the tiger mosquito as transmitters of these species” says the Head of Public Health of the Attica Region, Anna Megalou.
Hot water stagnant water
Even a saucer with a little standing water can become a breeding ground for dangerous mosquitoes.
“It’s stagnant water, the mosquitoes are having a party there. They like to lay their eggs there (…) Municipalities must be very careful about hot spots with stagnant water, there are sometimes some fountains that don’t work, but it’s a hot spot for mosquitoes” emphasizes the Vice-Regional Head of the B. Sector of Attica, Loukia Kefalogianni .
They castrate the tiger
An innovative method applied in Greece by the Hellenic Atomic Energy Commission is the sterilization of male tiger mosquitoes with small doses of radiation and then releasing them into the environment.
“Sterile males that do not bite humans when they are out in the field with wild females, the result will be non-fertile eggs,” says Research Entomologist at the Benakeio Plant Pathological Institute, Antonis Michailakis. With this technique the significant population reduction is achieved.
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