Paphos steps up mosquito control after West Nile virus case in Nicosia

Paphos, Cyprus. Paphos municipality is taking precautionary measures against mosquitoes, municipal health officer Christos Christou said on Friday, following the detection of a West Nile virus case in Nicosia.

He said mosquito control must not be limited to responding after cases are reported, as mosquitoes and new species are expected to remain present.

Daily inspections and public information

Christou said the municipality’s strategy is based on two main pillars. The first is an organised daily house-to-house inspection programme conducted in cooperation with the state health services organisation, Okypy.

Teams of two or three trained health workers visit residential properties and distribute information sheets with instructions to help residents identify and remove potential mosquito breeding sites, particularly stagnant water.

Targeted treatment and reporting

A second team focuses on combating mosquitoes in river beds and ponds where stagnant water accumulates.

Christou said public complaints and reports are important, with each complaint investigated and recorded to identify possible outbreaks.

He said mosquitoes are present in large numbers within municipal boundaries but are being effectively addressed, noting that complaints have declined year on year.

Christou said public cooperation remains necessary for the measures to achieve the expected results. Asked whether the first confirmed case caused concern, he said his concern had existed before such reports.