Alarm in the Balkans for diseases from mosquitoes – What’s going on in Greece

In the first line of epidemiological, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, are the Balkans…
as mentioned by the president of the European Union to Combat Mosquito (EMCA), dr of Biology, Spyros Μουρελάτος, on the occasion of the organisation of an international conference in Becici, Montenegro, from 12 to 16 March.
“A total of over 2,500 recorded cases of encephalitis West Nile Virus, with deaths and serious long-term health effects, according to the ECDC (European CDC), after the 2010 -year made the biggest plague on european soil in Greece and specifically in Central Macedonia – the 95% of the serious of these incidents has been recorded in the Balkans or in neighbouring countries,” he says to ana-MPA, the president of the EMCA and ceo of the company “Οικοανάπτυξη”, specifying, however, that in the last three years there have been recorded cases of the virus, which is transmitted by mosquito bite.
And added: “Accordingly, in the case of very serious illness of malaria, almost all of recorded indigenous cases of malaria on european soil, that is, 85 cases have occurred in Greece”.
As noted by mr. Μουρελάτος, the Balkans are a “privileged” geographical section in connection with the emergence, resurgence or spread of significant diseases transmitted by mosquitoes for the wider European area. “It’s an area that’s convenient for you climate as there are a lot of warm places and is close to the Middle East,” he explains.
At the same time, according to mr. Μουρελάτο, a new danger has appeared for the wider region of Southeastern Europe. This is the recent re-emergence of the species Aedes aegypti, a privileged vector of Ζίκα, on the outskirts of Istanbul.
“We don’t have deaths from the Ζίκα but this species was widespread throughout the Balkan peninsula and caused one of the most important internationally epidemics of yellow fever, with thousands of deaths in the period 1927-1928 in Athens and Thessaloniki,” noted mr. Μουρελάτος.
Given that for these diseases there is no prevention or cure, except for malaria, the only way to deal with the fight against the vectors, i.e. the mosquitoes, and in this direction it moves and the theme of the 8th conference of the EMCA.
“During the conference is expected to present the latest developments on issues related to the ecology and control of mosquitoes and other vectors of diseases, from distinguished scientists and highly skilled professionals from a total of 25 countries”, concludes mr. Μουρελάτος.
Source: ana-MPA