City Council successfully completed preventive treatment for Nile virus
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The Municipal Delegate for the Environment, Maria José Marchan, held a telematic meeting organized by the Ministry of Health in connection with the completion of preventive treatment against the West Nile virus. This meeting included an assessment of the City Council’s oversight and control arrangements, which were initially conducted on a biweekly basis until the frequency became weekly in mid-August until completion on August 15th. November.
The implementation of treatment in Benalupe Casas Viejas has significantly reduced the spread of mosquitoes that transmit the disease, highlighting that in our municipality, despite being located in risk zone 4, no infections have occurred. For this reason, the city council is positive about the treatment and expects to begin a new surveillance and control program, which will be completed by 2025.
Maria José Marchan explained that the municipality has been implementing a program to monitor and control mosquitoes through larvicide treatment and adult mosquitoes since last June until mid-November. The goal of this action plan is to control mosquito populations in the municipal area, both in urban areas and on the outskirts. This treatment was intensified in areas with the highest mosquito prevalence (parks, gardens, scuppers, swimming pools, standing water, the edges of sewers and sewage canals near urban centers).
In the case of treatment of larvae, observation is carried out after 24 hours, assessing its effectiveness. When the situation requires it, treatment is repeated to achieve greater effectiveness. As for the treatment of adults, the observation time reaches 12 hours. During this period, the effectiveness is assessed and monitored, and if necessary, the treatment is also repeated.
Although the treatment has ended, the City Council of Benalupe-Casas Viejas insists on the need for the population to take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites during the hours of greatest activity of the species that transmit the disease (during the immediate vicinity of dawn). and after dusk), both individual – use of registered topical repellents and light clothing that covers most of the skin – and household – use of mosquito nets or environmental repellents – especially for vulnerable populations with weakened immune systems.
Recommendations include preventing the accumulation of waste water (from gardens, pots, tools, etc.) to prevent it from being used for the development of mosquito larvae, and ensuring that swimming pools are chlorinated throughout the year.