There have been no cases of the West Nile virus in Greece up until now. The Hellenic Centre of Disease Control and Prevention took the initiative to spray locations which are of high risk. Vice secretary in the region of Thessaloniki, Apostolos Tzitzikostas said he is waiting for the approval of the Ministry of Health to start spraying to deter mosquitoes.
Since there have been no cases of sick people and no serious risk factors have appeared in the tests carried out by the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, we are on level of risk 2, in vigilance. According to the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention there is no reason for extended air spraying for the time being, since the type of mosquito which is transmitting the West Nile virus is the Culex Pipiens which settles around cities. As a result, other measures safer public health must be imposed near cities before air spraying. Their plan is to focus on the screening and surveillance of the critical factors of the epidemic and to raise public awareness.
On the other hand, the president of the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jenny Kremastinou, noted that the first case last year in Greece was recorded on August 6th. She also added that in America the epidemic lasted for ten years so it is likely that there will be people who will get sick this year in Greece too. They just hope there will be fewer deaths if they prepare the public properly.
According to the results of the epidemic, the research carried out from November 25th till December 22nd of 2010, in the regions of Pella and Imathia, Northern Greece, showed the virus is at high levels among populations in villages , with fewer than 2000 people reaching 10%. This was in comparison with towns with up to 20.000 habitants , where the rate is 5.6% and in comparison with cities where the rate reached 1.4%.
Considering all the above, it is necessary to take measures in order to avoid the concentration of water in rural areas as well as in cities where there are more habitants. The still waters on plates under the flowerpots as well as in draining canals 500 metres away from the houses could benefit the spreading of the virus.
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