THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES yesterday said they have initiated a comprehensive spraying campaign to control the excessive number of mosquitoes currently being seen across the island.
The capital seems to have been hardest hit, with the hungry insects driving dozens of residents to doctors and pharmacists over the holiday weekend.
Acting Head of the Public Health Services, George Georgallas yesterday told the Mail that the mosquito-spraying programme has been undertaken as a result of the recent unexpected weather. This involves special teams of sanitary workers using environmentally friendly insecticide.
A similar programme is being carried out with the cooperation of the United Nations in the buffer zone.
“Over the past month or so, we have seen quite a lot of rain as well as unseasonably high temperatures,” he explained. “This combination of factors has resulted in an increase in the number of mosquitoes.”
When asked when the situation will return to normal, Georgallas could not give an exact timeframe, saying the authorities were aware of the problem and working as fast as they can to improve the situation.
“After it rains, a lot of water gathers and lies stagnant in different spots attracting the mosquitoes to it,” he explained.
He also said that empty containers lying around gardens or dumped in empty fields were a particular hotspot for the insects because they filled with water when it rained.
He advised the public of a number of measures they can take to help limit the problem and to protect themselves.
“They shouldn’t leave things like empty vases, bottles, old water hoses or watering cans lying around exposed. Instead they should either be turned over so that they don’t collect water, or destroyed if they’re no longer used.
“The caps on home sewage systems should also be well-fitted so there mosquitoes can’t breed at the source. Unused water deposits that are destroyed, oxidised or have holes in them should be thrown out – not just left on the roof to attract and lead to the multiplication of mosquitoes.”
Another favourite breeding ground are the ponds and water fountains people keep in their gardens.
“If these ponds have fish in them then it’s okay because they eat the mosquitoes, but it’s the ponds and fountains that just recycle the same water that are a problem because they attract the mosquitoes, which are then able to breed.”
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