Akrotiri, Cyprus. The British Bases on Monday handed over 14 mosquito trapping units to communities surrounding the Akrotiri wetlands to help reduce mosquito nuisance and the risk of disease. Representatives of the bases, Kourion municipality and Limassol municipality attended the presentation, with Kourion receiving 10 units and Limassol four.
Wetland area and mosquito control
The Akrotiri Salt Lake and surrounding marshland form the largest wetland complex in Cyprus and serve as an important stop for hundreds of migratory bird species. The area also provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes despite a year-round control programme operated by the bases Joint Services Health Unit.
Integrated management programme
Environmental health officer Helen Tokaiqali said the trapping scheme had been introduced as part of an integrated mosquito management programme.
She said an additional trapping scheme, with 14 traps operating throughout summer and autumn, aimed to minimise mosquito nuisance for local communities using environmentally friendly methods that respect human and animal health as well as the natural environment.
Monitoring and public advice
Bases entomologist Dr Kelly Martinou said mosquito species captured in the traps would be monitored weekly in the laboratory.
She urged residents to prevent stagnant water from collecting on their properties, warning that such areas could serve as mosquito breeding sites. Martinou also advised people to take personal protection measures, including using mosquito repellent, particularly during dusk and dawn.
Cooperation with local authorities
Deputy area administration officer Antonis Antoniades, speaking on behalf of the SBAA, said the handover reflected the importance placed on cooperation with local authorities.
He said the organisation looked forward to seeing the results produced by the trapping units and thanked participants in the mosquito control group for their continued engagement and cooperation.
