The animal welfare office and fight against the strayed environmental services department, in agreement with the competent councilor Massimiliano Minutoli, at the invitation of the Provincial Healthcare Company of Messina, announces the notice for information and awareness of the population on the risk linked to West Nile infections.
“How to defend yourself from mosquitoes and prevent infection from the West Nile virus (WNV) – said Councilor Minutoli – is important for our citizenship, especially in the elderly and in fragile people. Generally the disease is transmitted to people and animals through the puncture of infected mosquitoes of the Culex genus. It is the common mosquito present from the sunset at dawn, more active in the period between spring and autumn. It is transmitted from person to person and – continues Minutoli – Most of the WNV infections in humans are asymptomatic.
To minimize the risk of mosquito stings, the adoption of the main prevention measures is advisable, such as the correct use of topical repellents according to the indications of the producers; the use of protective clothing; the installation of physical barriers (e.g. mosquito nets); the use of environmental solutions aimed at reducing exposure to mosquito stings (e.g. devices for temperature and humidity control, such as air conditioners); as well as all good practices aimed at eliminating possible larval outbreaks in private spaces, such as gardens and private vegetable gardens: elimination of objects that can constitute small temporary collections of water, such as empty jars, saucers, containers without lid, ornamental amphorae, children’s games; Prevention of stagnation, which create the conditions for larval development of mosquitoes, in the environmental foci non -eliminable, such as, for example, ornamental tanks and fountains, gutters, perennial basins and for the water supply of urban gardens, cisterns, etc … are attached, below, two information brochures (“West Nile virus: how to prevent the infection” and ” to defend yourself from mosquitoes “), drawn up in this regard by the Ministry of Health.