West Nile fever can be significantly prevented if citizens consistently apply mosquito protection measures, warns epidemiologist Dr. Dragan Danilovski. He urges against leaving stagnant water around homes, because that is where the tiger mosquito breeds most easily.
In an interview with TV Telma, Dr. Danilovski pointed out that the elderly, the infirm and people with weakened immunity are at the highest risk of a severe form of the disease.
“The elderly, the chronically ill and those with weakened immunity are at the highest risk for a severe form of West Nile fever. Personal protection is extremely important, wearing appropriate clothing, installing nets on windows and removing stagnant water around homes,” said Danilovski.
He warned that old car tires, plastic containers, flowerpot trays, barrels, pet bowls and dirty gutters are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Epidemiologist Danilovski pointed out the symptoms of West Nile fever – high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, even impaired consciousness, paralysis, etc., and said that if they appear, citizens should immediately go to a doctor for a check-up.
He described the tiger mosquito as more dominant, more vital and superior than the former “domestic” mosquito and is active 24 hours a day.
“The tiger mosquito is capable of breeding in very small amounts of water. It’s fantastic how viable they are. Those little trays under vases if you have them at home or in the yard, a little water if there is one there, well, enough. Plastic dishes, pet food, car tires, plastic barrels, gutters – gutters must be constantly cleaned, so that water does not collect there,” warned Dr. Danilovski.
