PAPHOS MUNICIPALITY ON HIGH ALERT FOR MOSQUITOES WITH PREVENTION AND PROTECTION - Pafos Press 21/8
The Paphos Municipality is on high alert to combat mosquitoes, implementing the strategy it has adopted and is based on two pillars, prevention and protection, as Dr. Christos Christou, Health Officer of the Paphos Municipality, told CNA.
Asked after the detection of a case of West Nile virus about the measures that the Paphos Municipality is taking to combat mosquitoes, Mr. Christou initially stressed that addressing the problem cannot be limited to reacting after the appearance of a case.
“Mosquitoes and their new species have come and will stay,” he said, pointing out that the aim is to take effective measures to reduce the mosquito population as much as possible, as well as to protect citizens.
As he explained, the strategy implemented in the Municipality of Paphos is based on two main pillars, prevention and protection.
Regarding prevention, Dr. Christou said that for several years now, an organized program of house-to-house checks has been implemented daily, in collaboration with the State Health Services.
Teams consisting of two to three appropriately trained health workers visit homes and inform residents, using a special information sheet with simple and understandable instructions.
The goal is for residents themselves to be able to identify potential mosquito breeding sites in or around their homes and proceed with their elimination, he explained.
Particular emphasis is placed on stagnant water, which can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.
At the same time, a second team is engaged in combating mosquitoes in adjacent lagoons, in or near residential areas, as well as in other open spaces where stagnant water may be created.
Another important tool, he continued, is the use of complaints and reports from residents.
As Dr. Christou mentioned, every complaint filed is investigated and recorded, so that outbreaks can be identified and addressed. At the same time, the information is recorded in an electronic system, which allows for more systematic and intensive monitoring.
He noted that there are mosquito outbreaks in the Municipality of Paphos, which are however effectively addressed by the competent services.
Particularly encouraging, according to him, is the fact that complaints from residents are decreasing year by year.
“This means that the measures taken by the services show that they are effective,” was the message of the Health Officer, adding that “without the help of the citizens, we will not have the results we expect.”
Dr. Christou emphasized that there is daily cooperation between the citizens and the state Health Services, with the common goal of limiting and controlling mosquito breeding grounds.
He emphasized, however, that the contribution of citizens is absolutely necessary.
“Without the help of the citizens, the treatment of the problem will not be at the levels that we all expect it to be,” he said, emphasizing that protection from mosquitoes is not the exclusive responsibility of the Municipalities or state services.
Dr. Christou placed particular emphasis on the need to understand that the problem is not occasional.
As he explained, as long as the host, that is, the mosquito that can transmit a pathogenic microorganism, exists, there will be a risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
“What is important is to deal with stagnant water,” he said, while calling on citizens to take personal protection measures.
Among other things, he recommended the use of insect repellents, the choice of long clothing in areas and times where there is an increased presence of mosquitoes, as well as the installation of screens on windows.
These are, as he noted, simple but essential measures that can significantly limit the possibility of mosquito contact with humans.
Asked whether he is concerned about the situation after the first confirmed case, Dr. Christou said that the concern did not arise now due to the publicity the incident received.
“Since the presence of a new species of mosquito was detected in Cyprus about three years ago, the competent services have been on heightened alert” and expected that an incident could occur.
He recalled that Cyprus had in the past recorded a significant number of cases of diseases associated with mosquitoes.
The goal is to combat mosquitoes, was his message.
Finally, Dr. Christou sent a broader message, emphasizing that addressing the problem does not concern only the Municipality of Paphos, nor the Municipality of Hierokipia or any other Municipality separately.
“It concerns everyone,” he emphasized, highlighting the need for a pan-Cypriot response and coordination.
