After the two cases of crows identified in Solarussa , a group of mosquitoes tested positive for the West Nile virus (Nile fever) in Torregrande, in the Oristano area.
The samples were sent to the national reference center of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Teramo for confirmation.
«Generally a pure formality», underlined Dr. Enrico Vacca, head of the Animal Health sector of the Asl 5 of Oristano, «in the meantime, we have already sent the Municipality of Oristano a proposal for a trade union ordinance in order to immediately implement all the prevention and control measures and thus avoid further spread of the virus and possible contagion to humans and horses".
To arrive at the capture, the Zooprophylactic Institute of Sardinia and the Department of Hygiene and Health Prevention of the ASL 5 have set up about fifteen traps in strategic points of the Oristano area, such as in the area of the San Martino hospital.
«One of these traps in Torregrande captured a pool, or a group of mosquitoes (culex pipiens), which tested positive for the virus», added Dr. Vacca, «we have also informed the regional health department so that the blood, organs and the donor tissues are subjected to the appropriate checks.'
He was followed by Maria Valentina Marras, director of the Public Health and Hygiene Service of Local Health Authority 5: "We remind all citizens to adopt the preventive measures also available in detail on the website of our health company".
A few weeks ago two crows had tested positive for the virus, shot down by the same hunter in the same spot, in the municipal area of Solarussa.
West Nile, transmissible from infected birds to humans or other animals through mosquito bites, develops asymptomatic in 80 percent of cases, causes flu-like symptoms in 20 percent (fever, headache , nausea and vomiting) and in less than 1 percent it causes encephalitis or meningoencephalitis.
In Italy, since the beginning of May 2023, 6 confirmed cases of infection in humans have been reported, none in Sardinia.
«It is important that citizens, especially the elderly and frail, protect themselves by adopting a series of precautions - underlines Marras - First of all, it is necessary to avoid stagnant water, where mosquito larvae proliferate. For this it is necessary to frequently empty saucers of flowers, buckets, tires, barrels; change the water in pet bowls often; keep paddling pools empty or cover them when not in use; treat manhole covers and rainwater drainage wells, drainage and stagnation areas with larvicidal products; check that the gutters are clean and not blocked; cover the cisterns and containers where rainwater is collected with airtight lids, sheets or mosquito nets. To defend yourself from bites, it is also recommended to screen doors and windows with mosquito nets, use skin repellents to keep insects away, avoid staying in areas where there are artificial lakes and stagnant water, such as gardens and parks, especially at dusk and at night, when the mosquitoes are most active.'
(Unioneonline/ss)
