The Athens Medical Association has expressed deep concern over increased West Nile virus activity in Attica this season, calling for immediate action against mosquitoes.
The medical body warned that current epidemiological data raises serious questions about the timing, planning, and effectiveness of mosquito control programs carried out across the region.
In a public statement, the association said managing the virus could not depend on piecemeal spraying or interventions launched only after viral circulation and human infections had already been recorded.
Attica is the administrative region encompassing Athens, the Greek capital, and surrounding urban and rural districts. The Athens Medical Association represents physicians across the metropolitan area, monitoring public health threats and state medical policy. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Call for early intervention
The association urged authorities to begin spraying operations early in the year. It said systematic larviciding actions must target breeding sites before larvae develop into adult mosquitoes.
According to the group, effective management requires an integrated strategy implemented well ahead of peak mosquito activity. This approach must rely on continuous entomological surveillance and adjust swiftly to new epidemiological data.
Organized state prevention serves as the primary defense against the spread of the virus, the medical body noted. When control programs lack early implementation and coordination, the burden of protection falls on individual citizens.
Lack of medical treatment
The medical group emphasized that public prevention is particularly critical because no specific antiviral treatment or human vaccine exists for West Nile virus infection.
Giorgos Patoulis, the president of the Athens Medical Association, described the heightened circulation of the virus in Attica as a severe public health warning. He said waiting for human cases to emerge before mobilizing resources was insufficient.
Patoulis called for a scientifically grounded plan starting months before peak mosquito activity. He highlighted early larviciding, the mapping and elimination of breeding grounds, ongoing population monitoring, and targeted actions in high-risk zones.
Personal protection recommendations
The association urged citizens, particularly those in vulnerable groups, to observe personal protection measures strictly, while calling on authorities to intensify prevention efforts without delay.
For individual protection, health officials recommended several key measures:
- Using approved insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing according to product instructions.
- Wearing appropriate clothing that covers as much of the body as possible, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.
- Using mosquito nets, particularly for infants and high-risk individuals.
- Installing and maintaining mosquito screens on doors and windows.
- Using fans or air conditioning where possible.
- Removing standing water from flowerpots, saucers, buckets, containers, and rain gutters around the home.
- Refreshing water in pet and animal bowls regularly.
