Loss mosquitoes and ticks act like tropical disease vectors As the dengue, zika or chikungunya. With high temperature, These insects are increasing in number and global warming has contributed to their presence for many months of the year. That’s why mosquito awareness campaigns, until a few years ago common only in South America, they are now also in different provinces of Spain. An example: last year the City Council of Elche asked for the collaboration of citizens to act on private property (where the Administration cannot enter) and the neighbors themselves monitor the swimming pool, reservoir, pond, drum, wheel, flower pot and vessels in general, since the worm of tiger mosquito They are raised at these points.
Mosquito awareness campaigns, until recently uncommon in South America, are increasing in Spanish cities
on Catalonia, the Public Health Agency (Aspcat) also has one strategy aimed at prevention and control of the tiger mosquito (‘aedes albopictus’) in the territory, there are approx entire Catalan coast. Within the strategy, which also includes health care, there are a series of actions to “sensitization” of the population, something “key” to prevent and control the tiger mosquito, because, according to Aspcat, “an important part of the habitat of this insect. can be reduced slightly but important changes in these spaces”.
So, in Catalan houses, The best solution to prevent and control this insect is removing or neutralizing containers that contain water, make a hole in them, turn them over or change the water every week. In addition, this action must be complementary to a active surveillance so that these spaces cannot be a mosquito breeding point. The campaigns of knowledge and civic education made by the health authorities aims to convince the citizens of the need to act in this way.
In Catalonia since 2004
The tiger mosquito was found for the first time in Catalonia in 2004. Since then, following the same expansion model than other countries, It is almost spread over the entire territory. This is a invasive species from Asia. It is small in size, black in color and so on White stripes. Females lay eggs dry and on the inner wall of small containers that may contain water. Worms are aquatic. The tiger mosquito has a short radius of action, so it is important to prevent it from finding places to breed.
On a global level, the initiative World Mosquito Program (implemented in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia and Vanuatu) search protecting local communities of mosquito-borne diseases. This program uses a safe and natural bacteria called ‘wolbachia’ to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
According to this program, since the first release of mosquitoes carrying ‘wolbachia’ in 2011, evidence of pilot study shows that it is possible to use ‘wolbachia’ on a larger scale in reduce the risk of virus transmission by the ‘aedes aegypti’ mosquito (the yellow fever mosquito). Lots of rehearsals in different locations demonstrate that this is a safe and effective method to help prevent the spread of diseases throughout cities and regions.
How does it work? When mosquitoes carrying ‘wolbachia’ are released, they breed with wild mosquitoes. Over time, most mosquitoes will carriers of ‘wolbachia’ bacteria. These mosquitoes have a reduced ability to transmit viruses in humans, which reduces the risk of outbreaks of dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
