In 2013, a never-before-seen flood wave descended on the Danube and this resulted in an extreme mosquito invasion. The state decided that, in addition to flood protection, protection against flood-related mosquito damage is also one of the tasks of disaster management. Every year since then, the disaster management has managed the central protection against mosquitoes.
The uniform protection is thus more cost-effective, since the tools necessary for protection can be obtained in large doses at a discounted price, and the protection is also coordinated. The central mosquito control program covers the areas where the mosquito invasion is the largest.
The works are managed by the disaster management, and the treatments are carried out by specialists, in all cases with pesticides approved by the public health authority. The specific use is checked by the public health administrative bodies of the county government offices and district offices.
Hol?
The areas covered by central mosquito control are determined by expert tests. These specialists are entomologists, i.e. experts dealing with entomology. Entomologists with local knowledge know the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and the places of occurrence of mature individuals, at these points they regularly measure the number of bites and the number of mosquito larvae developing in the water.
The data is supplemented with information obtained during the price and inland water protection of the past years, as well as reports made by citizens to local governments and expert investigations based on the reports. Continuous monitoring by experts is essential, because breeding sites and specific weather conditions must also be taken into account when determining the location and frequency of treatment.
With what?
According to the regulations, mosquito control is basically carried out using two types of technology, where the expert recommends it due to the increase in the number of mosquitoes:
Biological larval fermentation; ground or aerial application
During the biological reduction, a protein-containing preparation produced by bacteria is introduced into the water in the breeding places of the mosquitoes. The product is applied to smaller bodies of water with a high-pressure sprayer mounted on a vehicle, and to larger bodies of water by plane. The environmentally friendly agent only destroys mosquito larvae in the dose used, and is harmless to all other living beings. This method cannot be used to control adult mosquitoes, only their supply can be reduced by killing the larvae.
The use of the biological method is preferred in all cases where the location and the weather conditions and the season make it possible, but this is not always possible. Millions of puddles form after rivers flood or when it rains in inaccessible areas. In such a wooded, wooded area, the aerial application of the biological preparation would not lead to results either, since the preparation would not reach the water surface under the leaves of the trees, where the mosquito larvae develop.
In addition to all this, a significant part of mosquito habitats is located on private plots. It is therefore not possible to protect against mosquitoes with biological methods only, since it is impossible to find and treat every single puddle, garden barrel or bucket full of water.
Chemical mosquito repellent; by ground application
During chemical mosquito control, specialists spray a pyrethroid-based pesticide on the ground, i.e. using equipment fixed on a flatbed vehicle. The procedure can be carried out with warm mist formation, in which case the spread of the pesticide broken down into small droplets is also helped by the addition of heat. This technology is primarily beneficial in environments heavily covered with vegetation, but the resulting fog limits visibility for a short time, so it is less commonly used in busy places. The other option is the ULV process, which also dispenses the pesticide in small droplets, but without adding heat. The spray cloud is only slightly detectable and does not disturb traffic, so this procedure is primarily used in busier, urban areas.
The pesticide is harmless to humans, warm-blooded animals and plants in the applied quantity, it would only have a negative effect in a dose several thousand times higher. Only half a liter is sprayed per hectare, and it decomposes a few hours after application. The treatments are started after sunset, so the mosquito control does not pose a threat to bees and other insects active during the day (due to the low dose, the preparations do not have a lethal effect on bees and other less sensitive insects anyway). Nevertheless, for precautionary reasons, before thinning, the experts inform the beekeepers when and where they can expect spraying. Chemical spraying takes place in the interior of settlements.
In previous years, aerial treatments were also used, however, the permission of the mosquito repellent products approved for aerial application has expired, so in the future this technology can only be used in the event of an epidemiological emergency, with the individual consent of the national chief medical officer.
The public can also help with mosquito control
Based on what the national chief medical officer said earlier, the public can also do a lot to effectively protect against mosquitoes that develop on small bodies of water:
- It is recommended to collect or cover children’s toys, food, and cutlery stored outdoors, as well as clothes dried outdoors, on the day of the treatment.
- It is recommended to keep the windows and doors closed during the treatment and for 1 hour afterwards and to turn off the artificial ventilation equipment that brings in outside air.
- It is recommended to wash vegetables and fruits grown in the treated area before consumption or processing.
- You must not stay in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle performing the treatment.
Mosquito larvae can develop in rainwater stored outdoors, uncovered, in rainwater on various objects in as little as a week. As a supplement to the mosquito repellent treatment, it is recommended that property owners eliminate, regularly empty or cover the area around the buildings
smaller, stagnant pools of water.
dunakeszi.hu
2024-07-04 09:23:02