During the last decade the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has been introduced and extended throughout the Valencian Community. Its implementation has been confirmed in more than 290 municipalities and nowadays its eradication is not considered possible.
It is responsible for annoying bites and can act as a transmitter of potentially serious diseases such as dengue, Chikungunya virus disease and Zika. Although these diseases are present in tropical and Asian areas, the mosquito can become infective when it bites a sick person returning from an endemic country. In this way, he would be able to transmit the disease to healthy people through his bites.
Now, the Ministry of Health of the Generalitat Valenciana has edited the Manual of good practices against tiger mosquito and black fly for municipalities of the Valencian Community, a document, prepared with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the University of Valencia, the three provincial councils and the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, which explains the characteristics of the tiger mosquito and includes advice and recommendations to municipalities in its control actions.
The manual is structured in five large blocks, with an introduction, the biological characteristics of the tiger and black fly mosquito, the sanitary importance of these two insect species, recommendations to municipalities in their control actions and the role of the Health Administration. It also presents six annexes that include preventive measures to prevent the proliferation of the tiger mosquito in homes, in certain public spaces (such as municipal swimming pools, urban gardens, bodies of water in parks, etc.) and for certain activities (such as gardening companies, farms of animals, hotels and camping).
Tips against the tiger mosquito
To avoid the proliferation of the tiger mosquito in homes, the manual recommends, for example, to eliminate outdoor objects that can accumulate water, keep the plates of pots dry, avoid the accumulation of water in spaces (holes, holes in trees, etc.). ) and keep drains or gutters clean. Likewise, it is recommended to guarantee the absence of mosquitoes and other organisms in the pools, as well as to perform a good maintenance of ornamental ponds or fountains.
The new manual also provides information regarding control actions for municipalities. Following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, a comprehensive strategy is proposed that combines measures of environmental order with prevention and control methods. Thus, Annex III includes measures in certain public spaces (such as cemeteries, urban gardens, lakes or ponds) in which it is necessary to prevent the accumulation of water accessible to mosquitoes.
Information about the tiger mosquito will also reach the classrooms. The Ministry of Health has drafted a document aimed at the education sector that includes documentation and resources on tiger mosquitoes, so that it can be integrated into the teaching classrooms. Thanks to the 'Tiger mosquito program: prevention and promotion of health in the school environment', students can incorporate and transmit habits aimed at preventing the proliferation of the species in the domestic environment.
