Ministry of Environmental Protection: Mosquitoes infected with West Nile fever were caught in the oxidation ponds of the Yotbata and Eliphaz kibbutzim. – Eilat news

by time news

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus were discovered in the Yotaba and Eliphaz area. The Ministry of Environmental Protection notes that as long as temperatures are high, mosquitoes will continue to develop in standing water. The climate changes guarantee us the extension of the pest season, therefore especially during the holidays when we spend time outside the houses, and especially in the evening hours it is important to stay away from the infected areas, and apply mosquito repellents”

The Ministry of Environmental Protection announces that mosquitoes infected with West Nile fever have been caught in several areas in the south of the country – in the oxidation ponds of the Yotbata and Eliphaz kibbutzim.
As every season, the Ministry of Environmental Protection monitors and traps mosquitoes. The adult mosquitoes are identified and tested in the laboratories of the Ministry of Health. In the captures carried out in September, the mosquitoes infected with the virus were found.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection alerted the Eilot Regional Council, the Yeruchem and Alfi Menashe local councils, the Union of Ayalon Cities and the Nature and Parks Authority in their area that the infected mosquitoes were found, and ordered the increased monitoring of the infected area and, if necessary, the immediate implementation of preventive and extermination actions.

Although the summer is over, due to the climate changes that cause the duration of the hot season and high temperatures, together with the incidents of sewage breaches that lead to the contamination of water sources, all of these create favorable conditions for the development of mosquitoes. Dr. Zagron adds: “Many sewer blockages are caused by using wipes and throwing them in the toilet, therefore it is important to avoid this and to report sewer breaches to the local authorities responsible for the prevention and treatment of hazards.”

Dr. Oren Asheat Kathabi, Center for Zoonotic Diseases in the Department of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health reports that according to Ministry of Health data, since the beginning of the year one person has died from the disease and nine other patients have been hospitalized.

West Nile fever is a disease that originates from animals and is also transmitted to humans. It is caused by a virus found mainly in poultry, and is transmitted to humans and various animals through the bite of mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. The incubation period of the disease from the moment of the bite to the development of the signs of the disease lasts about 5 to 21 days, and the disease usually lasts 3-6 days.
In most cases it is a mild flu-like illness that goes away on its own. The disease is usually characterized by fever, headaches, weakness, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, rash and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. Possible rare complications are acute inflammation of the brain or meningitis, and rarely the disease ends in death.
In order to avoid mosquito bites and hazards, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection recommend to the public to reduce standing water sources that may constitute habitats for mosquitoes, including:
• Locate, remove, puncture or turn over any container that may accumulate water such as old tires, buckets, and barrels.
• Prevent water accumulation in the bottoms of pots and planters.
• Empty or change water at least once a week in containers such as flower vases, and drinking vessels for pets.
• Cover swimming pools.
• Ensure the presence of fish in ornamental ponds.
• Clean and empty gutters.
• Invest effort in searching for sources of stagnant water hidden in the thickets of vegetation, in basements and roofs and remove from the environment old objects that are no longer in use and can accumulate water in them.
Take protective measures against mosquito bites:
• Use insect repellents on the body as well as in the living rooms.
• Reduce the areas of skin exposed to bites by wearing long, light-colored clothing.
• Turn on fans inside the house and when sitting outside the house.
• Install nets on windows and openings.
It is important to inform the local authority about the existence of sewage breaches, stagnant water and mosquito hazards in public areas, so that they can act to eliminate them.

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