The Zika virus has spread fear in Latin America, where millions of people have been infected for months after being bitten by a tiger mosquito. Most diseases occurred in Brazil, over 1.5 million people. Also here, Zika is said to be responsible for an alarming increase in the number of children born with abnormally small heads, a malformation known as microcephaly. The culprit for all this would be the tiger mosquito or Aedes albopictus, which is a carrier of the virus, which it transmits through a simple sting.
If until now, our health authorities said that Zika is not a danger for Romania, recently, they changed their position.
On February 12, the Ministry of Health sent an address to the Capital City Hall, in which it draws attention to the fact that the tiger mosquito was detected by the specialists of the Cantacuzino Institute in our country, since last year. Therefore, he asks the City Hall to use “active substances to fight mosquitoes of the species Aedes albopictus”. The ministry also calls for intensification of mosquito control measures “in areas known to be possible mosquito breeding sites (parks, lakes, including tire depots).”
In his turn, the director of the Cantacuzino Institute, Adrian Ionel, confirmed that the tiger mosquito was identified in the parks of Bucharest and in the forests of Ilfov county, in 2015. The problem is that the Capital City Hall did not even have a contract with any company that to do so, although the warm weather, the favorite of mosquitoes, knocks on the door. Therefore, during the meeting of the General Council on February 29, a draft decision was adopted on the initiation of allocation procedures, as a matter of urgency, for sanitation, disinsection, disinfection and rodent control in Bucharest. We will see when the disinsection begins and how it will be done.
How do we recognize it?
The tiger mosquito received this name because it is more aggressive than the common one, and its attack is more violent. It can be recognized by the white stripe on the back and the brown and white spots on the limbs and body (brindle appearance). It is similar in size to the common mosquito and can be removed with the same type of chemicals. It likes both wet and dry areas. Unlike the common mosquito, Aedes albopictus also flies during the day in search of prey and does not necessarily need water luster to grow.
Responsible for the birth of children with head defects
Several experts believe that Zika is responsible for an increase in the number of children born with abnormally small heads, a malformation known as microcephaly. The virus can be passed from mother to baby through the placenta. However, cases of sexual transmission have also been confirmed, as well as through blood transfusions. The symptoms of Zika are usually mild and last between two and seven days: rising temperature, joint pain and swelling of the hands and feet. The incubation period is between three and 12 days. Treatment consists of administering pain and fever medications and proper hydration. There is currently no specific treatment.
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